Local Environment Plan - Rural Residential Residents raise concerns re zones and options in the Palerang LEP

You may be aware that currently Council is working on the preparation of the first Palerang Local Environmental Plan (LEP).  Since amalgamation, Palerang council has been working with multiple LEPs inherited from its different shires such as Yarrowlumla and Tallaganda. 

The basic LEP template/document is provided by NSW Department of Planning, and is the same for all NSW Councils –with mandatory sections and clauses where Councils can put their own ‘stamp’ on the document by adding in specific additional requirements. 

The NSW Government template has range of zones to allow for many different types of land usage with objectives that characterize each particular zone.  Zones can be included or excluded as appropriate.

What is concerning residents is the apparent rezoning by staff of the current rural residential areas to Zone E4- Environmental Living, while another rural-residential type zone (Zone RU4 – Rural Small Holdings) has been excluded.  (Information about this zone is included under this message)

On the Palerang website you can see the starting LEP document currently under discussion.  Council additions are in red print, and though small and hard to read, there are maps at the back of the document (bigger maps can be seen at the Council offices).  Otherwise, go to this link - http://www.palerang.nsw.gov.au/council/11086/11128.html


If you have concerns about the zones that are being applied to your land- you have an opportunity at this early stage to have your say, either addressing Council/Councillors at one of the Extraordinary Meetings being held for LEP disucssions. 

You can also email Council (records@palerang.nsw.gov.au) and all Councillors. (councillors@palerang.nsw.gov.au), or write to the General Manager at PO Box 348, Bungendore NSW 2621.

This is an important stage in getting the basics right- before the ‘Draft’ leaves Council hands.

Please be proactive if you have concerns about how your land will be zoned, and make your views known. 

 Councillor Anne Goonan

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ZONING

The Zone E4- Environmental Living zone has two mandatory objectives (see first two dot points below).  Palerang additions are in italics.  Activities are also listed.
•    to provide for low-impact residential development in areas with special ecological, scientific or aesthetic values;
•    to ensure that residential development does not have an adverse effect on those values. 
•    To encourage the retention of the remaining evidence of significant historic and social values expressed in existing landscape and land use patterns.
•    To minimise the proliferation of buildings and development that is visually intrusive and ensure compatibility with the existing landscape character
•    To ensure that the development and management of the land has proper regard for the environmental constraints of the land and has a neutral or beneficial impact on environmental assets including waterways, riparian land, wetlands and other surface and groundwater resources, soil fertility, remnant native vegetation, and potential and existing fauna movement corridors
•    To provide for the effective management of remnant native vegetation, including native vegetation regeneration, noxious and environmental weed eradication, and bush fire hazard reduction
•    To ensure that development does not unreasonably increase the demand for public services or public facilities
•    To minimise conflict between land uses within the zone and land uses within adjoining zones
(2) Permitted without consent
Home occupations

( 3) Permitted with consent
Bed and breakfast accommodation; Building identification signs; Businessidentification signs; Cellar door premises; Community facilities; Dwelling houses; Dual occupancies; Earthworks; Electricity generating works;Emergency services facilities; Environmental protection works; Extensive
agriculture; Farm buildings; Flood mitigation works; Home based child care;Home business; Home industries; Intensive plant agriculture; Neighbourhood shops; Places of public worship; Recreation areas; Roads; Roadside stalls;Secondary dwellings; Waste or resource transfer stations; Water recycling facilities
Prohibited
Industries; Service stations; Turf farming; Warehouse or distribution centres;
Any other development not specified in item 2 or 3

The other rural residential type zone (Zone RU4 – Rural Small Holdings) that has so far been excluded from the current LEP draft has the following mandatory objectives:

•    To enable sustainable primary industry and other compatible land uses.
•    To maintain the rural and scenic character of the land.
•    To ensure that development does not unreasonably increase the demand for public services or public facilities.
•    To minimize conflict between land uses within the zone and land uses within adjoining zones