Wyong Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2013 Kathryn Heintz Senior Strategic Planner, Strategic Development

There are many positives to Wyong LEP 2013…

GOVERNANCE No more SEPP 1 = Need to use Clause 4.6 – Exception to development standards. Certain clauses excluded from further variation. Council development on any land is permissible without consent. Exclusions apply to heritage items, BCA class 1-9 buildings, environmentally sensitive land etc. Land acquisition provisions are now mapped. Flood planning: Flood mapping does not currently reflect Council’s new sea level rise policy (compliance with the 1 in 100 year flood level and 500mm freeboard allowance). The mapping will be amended through a separate planning proposal process by the end of 2014.

ENVIRONMENTAL E2 Environmental Conservation zone - applies to endangered ecological communities, SEPP 14 wetlands, threatened flora (E2 is the most restrictive land use zone). Drinking water catchments now more strongly protected. Minimum lot sizes still apply (as per Wyong LEP 1991). New provisions limit use of community title and strata title subdivisions in environmental and rural zones. You can now subdivide below minimum lot size for the R5 Large Lot Residential and E4 Environmental Living (rural residential zones) in exchange for conservation benefits. This provision only applies if sufficient on-site conservation offsets are available. A strategy needs to be prepared to broaden applicability by enabling off-site conservation offsetting.

ECONOMIC 28 Key Sites incorporated into LEP. Height bonuses to help stimulate economic development AND provide community benefits. 368 Council properties reclassified to operational status. These properties can now be investigated for future potential. Contains the new town centres strategies at The Entrance, Wyong and Toukley, enabling higher development densities. Integrated housing (5 or more lots below minimum lot size) can now be developed in the equivalent of the 2(a) (Low Density Residential Zone). From this…To this….

ECONOMIC (continued) Shop top housing now permissible in the B7 Business Park zone and the equivalent to 3(b) (Business Support Zone). Additional permitted uses such as serviced apartments, hotel or motel accommodation, and residential care facilities now apply to all registered club sites. Dual occupancies can now be subdivided in the equivalent of the 2(e) (Urban Release Area zone). More flexible land uses within most zones. From this… To this….

ADDITIONAL USES Development for the purposes of hotel or motel accommodation, residential care facilities, seniors housing and serviced apartments is permitted with development consent if the development is associated with a registered club.