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City of Wollongong
Resident Visitor Business

Former 7d Land at Helensburgh, Otford and Stanwell Park

Location: Various sites at Helensburgh, Otford and Stanwell Tops.
Status: Assessment and Determination by Council

Council’s planning proposal to rezone land at Helensburgh, Otford and Stanwell Tops has a long, complicated history.

The land surrounding Helensburgh, Otford and Stanwell Tops was zoned 7(d) Hacking River Environmental Protection.  The 7(d) zone was introduced in the 1980s and 1990s.  It aimed to protect water quality in the Royal National Park, Hacking River and Woronora Catchment area by restricting development. Originally 777 lots were zoned 7(d).

The 7(d) zone category no longer exists. In 2010 land that was 7(d) became zoned as E3 Environmental Management.

In the 1970s and 80s people bought land surrounding Helensburgh hoping that it would be rezoned to permit residential development.  However the planning controls for this land have become more restrictive over time.

Council has considered various requests and applications to rezone the former 7(d) land. Very few of these requests were supported.

In 2006 Council began a review process, which went through multiple versions and exhibitions.  In 2015 the review process was completed, and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment finalised a Local Environmental Plan for the area, which is reflected in the current zoning and planning controls.

The former 7(d) lands were divided into a number of different precincts. This allowed for development in some areas, while keeping other areas as environmental spaces.

You can view current land zones for this area on our land zone map

Details about the history of 7(d) land and related documents are shown below.

5 June 2015

NSW Department of Planning and Environment finalised Council's Planning Proposal on the rezoning of the former 7(d) lands at Helensburgh, Otford and Stanwell Tops.

23 February 2015

Council resolved to accept the NSW Department of Planning and Environment offer to be the 'Relevant Planning Authority' for the draft Planning Proposal for the Lady Carrington Estate South precinct. For details see the Council report PDF, 320.55 KB and minutes from 23 February 2015 PDF, 144.79 KB.

25 August 2014

Council considered the then Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP - now known as the Southern Regional Planning Panel) recommendations and resolved to object to the recommendations for the North Otford and Lady Carrington Estate South precincts. For details see the JRPP's report PDF, 1817.12 KB.

March - July 2014

The Southern JRPP  reviewed Council's Planning Proposal and the pre-Gateway appeal for the Lady Carrington Estate South and Land Pooling precincts. For details see the JRPP's report PDF, 1817.12 KB.

5 February 2014

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment referred Council's Planning Proposal and the pre-Gateway appeal for the the Lady Carrington Estate South and Land Pooling Precincts to the Southern JRPP for advice and recommendations.

29 July 2013

Council considered 13 reports on the draft Planning Proposal to rezone land at Helensburgh, Otford and Stanwell Tops currently zoned E3 Environmental Management, and previously zoned 7(d) Hacking River - Environmental Management, to a variety of zones.

The reports and minutes are below.

28 August 2012

A community drop-in session was held at Helensburgh Community Centre to allow landowners and other stakeholders to view the plans.

Draft Planning Proposal Documents
Blackwells Rezoning Proposal 2012
Draft Planning Proposal Maps 2012

4 August - 26 October 2012

Exhibition of the draft Planning Proposal. Council received more than 58,000 submissions. You can read the agency submissions PDF, 2537 KB for this exhibition.

28 November 2011

Council considered 12 reports on the different precincts in the area. The draft Planning Proposal reflected the decisions made by Council at this meeting. Council resolved not to progress the proposed draft Planning Agreement.

You can read the reports from the 28 November 2011 Council meeting below:

21 November 2011

A community information session was held. For details, see the list of speakers PDF, 7.38 KB.

5 July 2011

Council considered 12 reports. You can read the Final Report on 7(d) submissions PDF, 5398.42 KB.

Council resolved to:

  1. Prepare a draft Planning Proposal to rezone 16 precincts.
  2. Retain the current E3 Environmental Management zone for three precincts.
  3. Exhibit a draft Planning Agreement involving a land swap proposal that affects seven precincts. The draft Planning Agreement is an early part of the community consultation process and Council sought community comment.

The draft Planning Agreement proposed the dedication of 321 hectares of land to Council for inclusion in the National Park. In exchange, the draft Planning Agreement seeks urban development within the Land Pooling and Lady Carrington Estate South precincts. The draft proposal also includes an exist strategy for third part land owners in the Lloyd Place, Central Bushland and Lilyvale precincts.

The following reports published by the then Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water were considered in the assessment:

2 June - 16 August 2010

Exhibition of the Preliminary Report on submissions. Council received 19,395 submissions. You can view the agency submissions PDF, 3248.07 KB from this exhibition.

25 May 2010

Council considered the Preliminary Report on 7(d) submissions PDF, 13143.09 KB and resolved to seek further community input.

10 August - 9 October 2009

Exhibition of the draft Review report. Council received 3,447 submissions. You can view the agency submissions PDF, 1280.42 KB from this exhibition.

28 July 2009

Council considered the draft Review of 7(d) lands at Helensburgh, Otford and Stanwell Tops, also known as the Willana Report on 7(d) lands PDF, 13260.03 KB. Council resolved to exhibit the draft report.

2005

Council's review of the planning controls began.

1994

Helensburgh Commission of Inquiry.