Central Coast Council’s motion calling on the NSW Department of Planning to create a new zone to protect conservation lands has been unanimously endorsed at the 2017 Local Government Conference.

The motion suggests a new Zone E5 Public Conservation to apply to public land assigned for conservation which is not an identified state National Parks and nature reserves.  The proposed zone would prohibit all forms of residential accommodation.

Currently in Local Environment Plans (LEPs) there is an E2 Conservation zoning but it has a broad definition that is open to interpretation and the proposed new zoning would offer additional and permanent protections to public land.

Central Coast Mayor Jane Smith who moved the motion said Council was leading the way in the protection of environmental lands and it was pleasing to have the unanimous endorsement of Councils across NSW.

“We can now go to the NSW Department of Planning with a united voice and say we want to see conservation lands protected for our community and future generations,” Mayor Smith said.

“This new zone would ensure identified land under the ownership of a local council can be protected and managed for the purposes intended and reflects the valuable contribution the land makes to the Local Government Area (LGA) as a whole.

“This vote supports the formalisation of the characteristics and protection of the Coastal Open Space System (COSS), a former Gosford Council initiative, across the Coast and NSW.

“The validation of the COSS is a recognised action of the State Government’s Regional Plan and this proposed new zone approach can ensure that can happen.” 

The COSS consists of over 70 natural reserves which are set aside for plants and animals, nature-based recreation which preserve the bushland character of the Central Coast.  COSS includes woodland ridgelines, gallery rainforests, steep cliffs, wetlands and creeks.

Following  a request and lobbying from the former Gosford Council, the former Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DP&I) released a policy statement in May 2012 that proposed to introduce a new conservation zone into LEPs. A number of Councils and organisations, including the former Gosford Council, Sutherland Shire Council and Environmental Defenders Office responded positively to the introduction of such a zone by way of submissions to DP&I.

The motion, that now has been unanimously endorsed by members of the Local Government Conference, will be sent to the State Government for consideration.

The Local Government Conference was held on 4 to 6 December in Sydney and was attended by representatives from Councils across the State.

For more information on motions passed at the Local Government NSW Conference go to lgnsw.org.au