Have Your Say on Draft Blue Mountains LEP 2013

Blue Mountains City Council is pleased to announce the public exhibition of its Draft Local Environmental Plan (DLEP) 2013, a new planning document to guide land use and development for the City of Blue Mountains.

 

Blue Mountains City Council is pleased to announce the public exhibition of its Draft Local Environmental Plan (DLEP) 2013, a new planning document to guide land use and development for the City of Blue Mountains.

 

Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill stated the Council’s DLEP 2013 has been prepared in response to the NSW Government requirement for all councils in NSW to prepare a new LEP based on a standard LEP template.

 

“The DLEP 2013 is essentially a conversion of Council’s existing planning documents into a single, comprehensive LEP for the City that complies with the NSW Government’s standard format, while maintaining the key provisions in our current LEPs”, said the Mayor.

 

“In doing this, Council has made a considerable effort to ensure the DLEP 2013 is a ‘best fit’ with the standard LEP, providing a planning framework that aims to protect our unique environment while permitting appropriate development in the future.”

 

“All residents will notice that the zoning of their land will have a new name, and the permitted land uses may have changed, for most properties in the Blue Mountains change will be minimal”, he said.

 

The public exhibition period for DLEP 2013 commences Wednesday 4 December 2013 and will conclude on Wednesday 5 March 2014.

 

The Mayor said, “Council acknowledges the commencement of the public exhibition in December is not the ideal time to engage the community on a significant planning proposal, however Council is required to adhere to the direction of the NSW Government.

 

In recognition of this, Council has extended the closing date of the public exhibition to 5 March 2014 to ensure adequate time for the community to get involved.”

 

The public exhibition period will give the community an opportunity to inspect the planning proposal, determine how it will affect their properties and the local area, and provide feedback to Council. The best way to access the planning proposal, including all maps, is through Council’s Have Your Say website at www.bluemountainshaveyoursay.com.au/draftlep2013. Printed copies of the DLEP 2013 are also available for viewing at Council’s Katoomba and Springwood offices and Blaxland, Springwood and Katoomba Libraries. In addition, there is a ‘drop-in’ centre at Council’ Katoomba Office open Monday to Friday between 9am to 2pm.

 

Council is also conducting a number of open information sessions on specific matters including: environment and heritage, residential, rural, business and industrial issues. Further details on the location and dates of these information sessions are on Council’s Have Your Say website. A video recording of these information sessions will be available for viewing on Have Your Say for those interested residents unable to attend. A series of informal drop in sessions at other locations and times, including weekends, will be held in January and February 2014.

 

Council has prepared numerous Fact Sheets to provide reader-friendly information on DLEP 2013 on topics such as the legal framework, zoning related matters, development standards and specific land uses. These Fact Sheets are available on line and at the locations previously mentioned.

 

While printed copies of the DLEP 2013 Planning Proposal, or parts thereof, are available for purchase, it is recommended that the best way to interact with DLEP 2013 is through the Have Your Say website. A USB complete with the Planning Proposal can also be purchased from Council if required.

 

Council’s Planning team can be contacted on enquirydlep2013@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or 4723 5999 (Lower Mountains) or 4780 5999 (Upper Mountains).

 

Written submissions on DLEP 2013 are welcome and can be made via

• Online submission at bluemountainshaveyoursay.com.au/draftlep2013
• Email submissiondlep2013@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
• Letter addressed to General Manager, BMCC, Locked Bag 1005, Katoomba NSW 2780