18 July, 2008
Tamworth Regional Council has prepared a Draft Local Environmental Plan (LEP) that will set the framework for planning and development in the Tamworth region.
The Draft Tamworth Region Local Environmental Plan (TRLEP) builds on the recommendations of the Tamworth Regional Development Strategy and aims to consolidate Tamworth as one of the premier areas in the State to live, work and invest.
Tamworth Regional Council will consider the Draft TRLEP at its meeting next Tuesday 22 July 2008 and will decide whether the draft plan should be forwarded to the Department of Planning to seek certification to publicly exhibit the draft plan in the future.
The future exhibition process will provide the opportunity for all interested parties to consider and comment on the LEP. However, until the Department of Planning provides their authorisation under the Environmental, Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the Draft TRLEP document and maps cannot be made publicly available.
Tamworth Regional Council's Director of Environment, Planning and Economic Development Alison McGaffin says: "This way, all citizens have an equal opportunity to view and make submissions on this important policy development process."
The Draft TRLEP brings together planning controls from the five former councils for the first time in the format of the Department of Planning's new Standard LEP Template.
"The Department's Standard LEP Template aims to bring uniformity to LEPs in NSW so that planners, developers and the community can better understand planning controls across NSW," Ms McGaffin said.
"As a result every property in the Tamworth Regional Council area will be affected by the new zones and planning provisions. The draft TRLEP will focus on providing new opportunities for agriculture, industry, manufacturing, retail and residential land uses across the region."
Council officers from across the organisation have endeavored to produce a high quality Draft LEP in consultation with the Department of Planning, government agencies, industry and private stakeholders through the Regional Development Strategy process.