Conservation Zones will form an integral part of the new Northern Beaches Council Local Environment Plan (LEP). APA made a submission regarding Council’s draft Conservation Zone review. NBC referred submissions to the Dept of Planning which has (belatedly) replied that these zones should stay substantially as they are, so a victory for common sense!
Council has now finalised the Conservation Zones (C Zones) Review. This is based on final Department advice as well as extensive technical studies, community submissions, mapping accuracy review, and initial site visits.
Keep up to date via the Your Say LEP page. https://yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/local-environmental-plan-and-development-control-plan
BACKGROUND
Conservation Zones C3 and C4, are important as they give local government and residents control over residential development in sensitive areas. In contrast, areas zoned ‘Residential’ allow ‘Complying Developments’ to be built. A ‘Complying Development’ does not need to be notified to the community and could compromise environmental values. Use the Councils online search tool to find out how the new zoning may affect you and your neighbours.
CONCERNS with Council’s original draft review included:
– the large number of properties to be transferred from Conservation Zones 4 and 3 (C4 and C3) zoning to ‘Residential’ zoning;
– the low value or lack of value given to Biodiversity, Tree Canopy, Scenic Location, Cultural/Heritage and Risk (eg fire, flood, steepness); and
– the lack of definition of ‘Residential’ zone.
The NBC revisited its methodology and reworked the draft to take account of the 935 submissions, especially relating to wholesale rezonings from C4 to R2. NBC’s discussions with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment regarding the methodology has resulted in agreement by the Department to retain zonings as is, a great result for the community.
See the NBC update here. See also the informative Pittwater online News articles here and here.
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