Central Coast Council is unable to confirm how many properties will be impacted by the proposed Coastal Zone legislative changes.
In a written statement, Council said it had submitted comments relating to the proposed SEPP. Council’s response included a recommendation that the SEPP should “embrace a total catchment management approach”. In its submission, Council also called for: “better detail around the definition of Coastal Vulnerability areas and their linkages to local planning instruments, including mapping; and, support for regional Coastal Zone Management Plans and Coastal Management Plans across local government boundaries.” According to Council, the new SEPP “must recognise the role of floodplain risk management planning in the process of identifying coastal vulnerability areas”.
It has asked the NSW Government to provide policy direction in relation to allowances for sea level rise and climate change adaptation planning and “clear and consistent property messages to be included on planning certificates”. Central Coast Council’s submission also asked for clarity as to the responsibility of agencies when dealing with non-compliant development. Another recommendation the Central Coast Council included in its submission was for the Joint Regional Planning Panel to be the consent authority for all permanent coastal protection works proposed by private landowners on public and private land. In response to a question from Coast Community News about whether Central Coast Council had any concerns about the mapping used during the consultation period, which did not show current hazard levels around Brisbane Water or Tuggerah Lake, Council’s statement said: “Hazard mapping is continuing to improve and it is expected that mapping issues will be rectified in due course.” However, it said Council had not completed a count of impacted properties because the number would depend on the hazard mapping used.
Media statement, Jan 25, 2017 Central Coast Council media