Draft Wollongong Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2009

Update
Council exhibited the draft Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009 for 4 months. As a consequence of the exhibition, Council received more 1,423 submissions. Council  has reviewed the issues raised in submissions through a series of reports.

On 26 May 2009, Council considered submissions commenting on the proposed Medium Density areas, height in residential areas, Port Kembla Public School, former Port Kembla School and Kenny/Keira Streets South Wollongong.   A copy of the report can be downloaded.
 
On 23 June 2009, Council considered submissions commenting on exhibited rezoning proposals, including Tallawarra, Excelsior Colliery, Bulli Brickworks, Cavions and a number of other sites. 

On 28 July 2008, Council considered five reports addressing submissions commenting on the 7(d) Lands at Helensburgh, 7 Glenlea Street Corrimal, the Corrimal Town Centre, Heritage issues and the Final report addressing the remaining issues (including Wollongong City centre, Illawarra Escarpment, flooding and new rezoning proposals). 

Related Council business paper reports are located on the right.

Background
Council has prepared the draft Wollongong Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2009 to replace Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 1990 and Wollongong City Centre Local Environmental Plan 2007. The draft Wollongong LEP 2009 applies to the Wollongong Local Government Area (LGA), with the exception of West Dapto Release Area and Dapto Town Centre which has been subject to the exhibition of a separate draft LEP.

Council has prepared the draft Wollongong Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2009 to replace Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 1990 and Wollongong City Centre Local Environmental Plan 2007. The draft Wollongong LEP 2009 applies to the Wollongong Local Government Area (LGA), with the exception of West Dapto Release Area and Dapto Town Centre which has been subject to the exhibition of a separate draft LEP.

The Local Environmental Plan guides land use and development in the LGA, by zoning land and identifying the appropriate land uses in each zone, controlling the scale or density of development, and identifying heritage items. Additional guidelines for development are contained in Council’s Development Control Plans (DCPs). A new Wollongong DCP is also in preparation and will be separately exhibited in 2009.

Council’s current principal planning instrument, the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 1990 (LEP) and has now been in force for eighteen (18) years. The Wollongong LEP has been amended on more than 240 occasions. The Wollongong LEP 1990 is out-dated and needs revision to:

• better incorporate sustainability, social and natural resource issues
• reflect Council’s recent City-wide strategies
• reflect changing community expectations
• respond to State and regional strategies.

In 2007, a new LEP for the Wollongong City Centre was gazetted. This has resulted in two sets of planning controls, one set for the City Centre and one set for the rest of the LGA. It is proposed that the two LEPs be merged back into one LEP to reduce inconsistencies.

The draft Wollongong LEP 2009 has been prepared based on:

• the requirements of the Illawarra Regional Strategy (NSW Department of Planning 2007)
• the requirements of the NSW Department of Planning’s Standard LEP Instrument (LEP Template) - which requires the use of standard clauses, zones and definitions throughout NSW
• translation of the existing provisions from the Wollongong LEP 1990 and Wollongong City Centre LEP 2007
• updating provisions based on recent planning studies and strategies, including:
  • Wollongong Futures (2005)
  • Wollongong Retail Centres Study (2004)
  • Wollongong Economic Roadmap (2003)
  • Wollongong Housing Study (2005)
  • Wollongong Economic Development Strategy (2006)
  • Wollongong Employment Lands Study (2006)
  • Planning People Places – Open Space, Recreation and Community Services Strategic Framework (2006)
  • Port of Port Kembla Land Use Review (2006)
  • Helensburgh Urban Capacity Analysis (2006)
  • Darkes Forest Land Use Review (2007)
  • Kanahooka Road Land Use Review (2007)
  • Illawarra Coal Mines Heritage Study (2006)
  • Wollongong Escarpment Strategic Management Plan (2005) and Land Use Review Strategy (2007)
  • Flood Planning Studies for the Alans Creek, Minnegang Creek, Mullet and Brooks Creeks catchments and Lake Illawarra.
• incorporating various draft rezoning proposals that Council has assessed and resolved to incorporate into the draft LEP for exhibition.

Council most recently endorsed the draft Wollongong LEP 2009 at its meeting on 24 June 2008. A copy of the report can be downloaded. The draft Wollongong LEP 2009 was certified for exhibition by the NSW Department of Planning on 28 November 2008. The draft Wollongong LEP 2009 was exhibited from 10 December 2008 to 17 April 2009. Council received 1,423 submissions. 

Any enquires in relation to the Draft LEP may be directed to Council’s Land Use Planning Team.

LEP Fact Box 

State Government Requirements
 
The Environment Planning and Assessment Regulations 2000 sets out the requirements for public consultation on draft Local Environment Plans. The requirement states that a draft LEP must be exhibited for a minimum of 28 days and a public notice must be published no later than the start of the exhibition period.
 
What Wollongong City Council has done 

• Since 2007 this draft LEP has been discussed on the floor of many public meetings, accompanied by a number of media releases and community information columns to generate awareness of the draft Plan. 
• The draft Wollongong Local Environment Plan (LEP) 2009 was placed on exhibition from 24 November 2008 and we are accepting submissions until 17 April 2008. 
• Council held 9 community information sessions across the city to explain the draft LEP and answer questions. 
•  Council presented to four Local Neighborhood Forums.
• Council distributed over 21,000 letters.
• Council sent out several media releases and advertised extensively on its website and in all branches of the City Library.
• Council placed many public notices in local newspapers and advertised on local radio. 
• Council sent out 82,000 newsletters to the community about the draft LEP. 
• Council sent out 2500 information CDs.  
•  Council officers have been available in person and over the phone for the past three months to explain what the draft LEP 2009 means and how it may impact residents.