On Wednesday evening, the Draft Mid-Western Regional Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) heads back to Council following the public exhibition period.
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At their May meeting, it will be recommended that Council receive the Post Exhibition report and adopt the LSPS.
What is it?
The Mid-Western Regional Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) outlines the 20-year vision for land use planning in the Mid-Western Region. And details Planning Priorities along with short, medium and long term actions to achieve those priorities.
The Land Use Actions outline where Council will focus its strategic land use planning project work in the future.
All Councils in NSW are required to prepare a Local Strategic Planning Statement and they must be reviewed every seven years.
The 12 Planning Priorities of the LSPS align with the five themes of the Mid-Western Region Community Plan Towards 2030; Looking After Our Community; Protecting Our Natural Environment; Building A Strong Local Economy; Good Government.
These include Planning Priority 2 - "make available diverse, sustainable, adaptable and affordable housing options through effective land use planning".
And Planning Priority 3 - "maintain and promote the aesthetic appeal of the towns and villages within the Region". By preparing local character statements and review and update planning and development controls to support the implementation of these statements.
As well as Planning Priority 7 - "support the attraction and retention of a diverse range of businesses and industries". Including by promoting the Region to target businesses that complement key local industries.
And Planning Priority 8 - "provide leadership on economic development initiatives and identify resources and infrastructure required to drive investment and economic growth in the Region". Such as by promoting the development of infrastructure at the Mudgee Airport as an opportunity for business expansion in the aviation industry.
The LSPS gives effect to the Central West and Orana Regional Plan 2036, implementing the directions and actions at a local level.
The point of contributing
During the exhibition period (Friday, March 20 to Wednesday, April 29) eight community submissions and six government department submissions were received.
As a result two additional Land Use Actions have been included in the Draft LSPS; Under Theme 1 Looking After Our Community - investigate the best means of achieving heritage conservation in Kandos; and Under Theme 4 Connecting Our Region - update the Roads Asset Management Plan to reflect newly developed areas.
Furthermore, Council developed five surveys to capture community input on Land Use Vision, Growth, Town Centres, Design Considerations, and Tourism.
These surveys were available online during January and February 2020, and promoted on Council's website and Facebook page, the Mid-Western YourSay communication tool, and via local media. 286 responses were received.
Where it goes
If the final LSPS is adopted by Council, it will be uploaded to the NSW Planning Portal as required by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment no later than July 1, 2020.
Even though the submission period is closed, the LSPS can be still be viewed on Council's website. Also - along with submissions - in the separate attachments to the May 2020 Council meeting agenda.