Council is currently consolidating its planning controls for the Central Coast to deliver significant efficiencies and simplify planning for the whole community and is calling for public input.

The Central Coast is currently operating under four different planning instruments each with different planning controls. The Wyong Local Environmental Plan 2013 (WLEP 2013) is the planning instrument for the northern area of the coast and the Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2014 (GLEP 2014), Interim Development Order No. 122 (IDO) and Gosford Planning Scheme Ordinance (GPSO) apply in the southern area of the coast.

The Department of Planning and Environment has granted Gateway Determination for the development of one Consolidated Local Environmental Plan for the Central Coast that will be on exhibition from 6 December to 28 February 2019.

Council Director, Environment and Planning, Scott Cox said Council staff have worked with all government agencies to develop a balanced plan that will protect and embellish the coast’s natural beauty whilst enabling more flexibility in terms of low density housing.

“This will mean we can now deliver a consistent approach to development controls making the process simpler, more efficient and transparent,” Mr Cox said.

“The ultimate goal here is to have one Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and one Development Control Plan (DCP) that will help improve our local environment and encourage investment, create new jobs and quality housing for the growing population of the Central Coast.”

“So if you are a property owner on the Central Coast or plan on becoming one, and want to build, renovate or develop, now is the time to find out how the consolidation of planning controls may affect you.”

The purpose of the Consolidated LEP is to bring together the two former Council’s LEPs and wrap up the deferred matters (IDO and GPSO) from the former Gosford LEP to create one plan.

A Consolidated DCP will be exhibited alongside the Consolidated LEP and will focus on simplifying and harmonising the current development controls of both former Councils creating a single Central Coast DCP.

Mayor Jane Smith said it is important for all of the community to get involved, take time to understand how development controls apply to local areas and the broader Central Coast.

“There is a need to unify development controls across the Coast and I encourage the community to have a look at how it could affect their neighbourhoods as there will be changes,” Mayor Smith said.

“One key change is in relation to lot sizes, as the lot sizes of the former Wyong Shire are proposed to apply across the Coast under this consolidation which is a change for half the Coast.

“Another key issue is how the COSS lands will be translated into the new LEP. The former Gosford Council took a strong stand in getting agreement from the State Government to introduce an E5 zone to protect these lands. This hasn’t yet been delivered.

“The aim is to provide consistent planning rules across the Coast through the consolidated LEP.”

“The next stage, the Comprehensive LEP process will be crucial – as that is when there is real opportunity for the community to have a say in the planning controls that will apply to and shape their local areas.”

The Comprehensive LEP and DCP will involve undertaking comprehensive land use studies on a variety of issues across the Central Coast. This will include comprehensive studies on employment, residential, town centres, rural and environmental lands. These land use studies will provide an up to date analysis on all the major planning issues which exist on the Central Coast. These reports and strategies will provide a solid foundation to accommodate growth and support community values and the wellbeing of both current and future residents. Furthermore, the Comprehensive LEP and DCP will support the implementation of development controls that can be used in the e-planning environment.

“The development of a comprehensive LEP and DCP will take some time and involve extensive consultation and community engagement to work through location specific challenges,” Mayor Smith said.

“That is why we are taking this initial step to establish Consolidated Plans - one set of rules based on the best option from the two former Council’s planning instruments that will form a basis for more detailed discussion with the community into the future.”

“I encourage everyone in the community to get involved now, make a point of finding out what rules may affect you, what may change for your street or suburb and if you have an opinion on the changes, make a submission to Council.”

A first round of information sessions will be held as follows:

Wyong Administration Building, 2 Hely Street, Wyong

Date: Tuesday 11 December 2018

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Erina Centre, Erina Fair, Terrigal Drive, Erina

Date: Wednesday 12 December 2018

Time: 5.30pm – 8.30pm

Session 1 LEP & DCP 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Session 2 Deferred Matters 7.30pm – 8.30pm

A second round of information sessions will be held in early 2019.

For more information about the Information Sessions or to see a schedule of pop sessions to be run in local shopping centres, visit yourvoiceourcoast.com

Consultation closes 28 February, 2019.