West Dapto masterplan

Status update
The draft West Dapto LEP for stages 1 & 2 of the Release Area, as well as Dapto Town Centre and Horsley, has been submitted to the NSW Department of Planning for their review prior to gazettal.  It is hoped that the draft plan will be gazetted between July and September 2009.  The revised draft LEP maps are available for downloading.  The draft LEP written instrument is being revised by the Department of Planning and is currently not available.
 
Council is currently revising the draft West Dapto DCP and draft West Dapto Section 94 Contribution Plan.  These documents will be reported to Council in the near future and then exhibited for community comment.
 
Background
West Dapto will grow and develop as a series of integrated communities within the spectacular natural landscape of riparian valleys and escarpment backdrop. When complete, the development will include approximately 19,000 new dwellings, 50,000 people and create around 8,500 jobs. Approximately $1.2 billion of infrastructure will be required to support this growth in a sustainable manner to address a wide range of issues including flooding, transport, social, cultural and recreation needs and facilities and open space.

The draft Plans also apply to the Dapto Town Centre will grow to a sub-regional centre to serve the needs of existing and future residents.  The draft plans also apply to Horsley which is proposed to be integrated with the future urban development.

You are encouraged to view the suite of documents that make up the draft Plan for West Dapto, and tell us your views. The draft documents can be viewed at Wollongong, Dapto and Unanderra Libraries, the Ribbonwood Centre and on Level 3 and 4 of Council's Administration Building at 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong.

The West Dapto background studies along with all exhibition documents are available on CD attached to the West Dapto Vision document. The Vision and CD are free of charge (maximum one per person / address) and is available on Level 3 of Council's Administration Building in Burelli Street or the Ribbonwood Centre or can be sent out by mail upon request.
 
On 14 December 2007, the NSW Department of Planning issued Amendment No. 2 to the Standard LEP Instrument.  The draft West Dapto LEP is based on the Standard LEP Instrument and will be required to be updated to reflect the changes prior to gazettal.  A copy of the amendments can be downloaded or viewed.

The draft documents were exhibited from 26 September 2007 to 30 May 2008 and submissions closed on 30 June 2008. 

The Administrators' commissioned the NSW Growth Centres Commission (GCC) to review key aspects on the West Dapto Release Area proposals, including flooding, riparian corridors, staging, infrastructure (provision, timing and cost).  Copies of all submissions have been forwarded to the GCC. 

The Growth Centres Commission has completed its review of the West Dapto Release Area. A copy of their report can be found on the right. 

Council at its meeting on 16 December 2008 considered a report on submissions received during the exhibition, the independent report of the public hearing on the reclassification of Council land and the report from the NSW Growth Centres Commission.  In summary, Council resolved to:

• progress the draft LEP for stages 1 & 2 (Kembla Grange, Darkes Road Town Centre, Wongawilli and West Horsley), Dapto Town Centre and Horsley to gazettal. The draft LEP has been forwarded to the NSW Department of Planning for review and gazettal
• prepare a revised draft Development Control Plan and Section 94 plan for this area.  To occurr in mid 2009
• defer the draft LEP for stages 3 & 4 (Avondale, Cleveland), Yallah-Marshall Mount and East Horsley.  A revised draft LEP for these areas will be prepared, translating the existing zones to equivalent zones under the Governments Standard LEP Instrument.  Urban development in these area is not expected for some time
• complete the Duck Creek Flood Study, vegetation management strategy for the Yallah-Marshall Mount area and prepare a revised master plan and draft LEP
• encourage the growth of the Dapto Town Centre as the main commercial centre for the area
• redesign the Darkes Road Town centre to reduce its size
• review the flood management strategy to not encourage the filling of the floodplain, except where mitigation measures can be accommodated on the same property
• not proceed with the reclassification of Reed Park and Dimond Bros Reserve
• not proceed with the West Dapto Transport Link (Fowlers Road extension) at this time
• upgrade Bong Bong Road in the short term, and West Dapto Road / Northcliffe Drive connection in the medium term, to improve access.