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 1,400 submissions. Council is now reviewing the issues raised in submissions. 
 
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.  A copy of the report can be downloaded.
 
Both reports recommended changes to the draft Wollongong LEP 2009.
 
A final set of reports will be considered by Council at its meeting on 28 July 2009.

Public briefing sessions
The issues raised in the submissions will be considered in detail at Council meetings in May, June and July. Prior to these meetings, Council will be holding three public briefing and information sessions at the Wollongong Town Hall.

• Session 1 - 26 May, 2pm-4.30pm: residential height and density issues, Port Kembla School, Kenny/Keira Street Wollongong Precinct
• Session 2 – 23 June, 2pm-4.30pm: specific rezoning proposals
• Session 3 – 28 July, 2pm-4.30pm: heritage, flooding and escarpment matters

The proposed reporting schedule of issues can be found on the right of this webpage under the 'Related documents' heading.

These briefings will give the community an opportunity to make comments or ask questions about the recommendations that will go to that night’s Council Meeting.

Residents will have the opportunity to view the Council report and recommendations on this website on the Friday before the meeting, and then address the Administrators with any relevant concerns or comments on report. Those interested in speaking at these sessions need to contact Council’s Land Use Planning Team on 4227 7631 before the briefing session. 

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 inconsistents.

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 will be on exhibition till 31 March 2009. 

As well as the website, the draft Wollongong LEP 2009 and associated documents will be available for inspection at:

• The City Planning Division (Levels 3 and 4) of Council’s Administration Building, 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong during normal working hours (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday).

• At Council libraries located at Wollongong, Helensburgh, Thirroul, Bulli, Corrimal, Unanderra, Warrawong, and Dapto during library hours.

A CD containing the exhibition documentation  will be available from Council’s City Planning Division free of charge. To request a copy of the CD please contact the Land Use Planning Team. The documents on the CD include:

• Draft Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009,  maps and explanatory notes
• Background studies and strategies
• Copies of reports to Council
• Summary of rezoning proposals

You can determine the zoning, floor space ratio, building height limit, minimum lot size and other controls proposed to apply to a property by using the interactive map.

Hard copies of the draft Wollongong LEP 2009 can be purchased from Council’s City Planning Division for $20 each and $100 for the A3 mapbook.

Any person may make a submission for or against the draft plan. Submissions should be submitted to Council by 17 April 2009. On 31 March 2009 the Minister for Planning requested that the exhibition period be extended until 17 April 2009. Where a submission is made by way of objection, the grounds for objection should be specified in the submission. Submissions will become public documents and may be viewed by other persons. Submissions must be in writing and should be addressed to:

The General Manager, Locked Bag 8821, Wollongong, NSW, 2500 Attention: Land Use Planning Team.

In any correspondence please quote file no. SU23594.

Submissions can be posted to the above address or emailed to wollongonglep@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or records@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or faxed to 4226-9796.

Any enquires in relation to the Draft LEP may be directed to Council’s Land Use Planning Team on wollongonglep@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or 4227 7631.

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.