The consolidated Central Coast Local Environmental Plan (CCLEP) will soon be implemented, providing a consistent planning framework for the region and pathway towards a smoother process for development applications and assessment.
Central Coast Council said the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) has indicated the CCLEP will be gazetted by the end of June, but some final adjustments are being made to ensure flood planning controls for development are consistent with those being applied across NSW.
“As part of the finalisation of the CCLEP, DPE recently informed Council that Clause 7.3 Floodplain Risk Management, a provision contained in Council’s current and exhibited draft Local Environmental Plans (LEPs), cannot continue to operate in the new CCLEP as new model template wording is now available in the standard instrument, Clause. 5.22 Special Flood Considerations,” a Council spokesperson said.
“Council will submit a request to replace the exhibited Clause 7.3 with the model Clause 5.22, which is expected to come into effect later this year.
“In order not to delay the introduction of CCLEP nor alter the considerations of flood impacts on the Central Coast, the CCLEP will also include Clause 7.23 Transitional Provisions for Floodplain Risk Management, retaining Clause 7.3 of the exhibited draft CCLEP until such time as Standard Instrument Clause 5.22 comes into effect.”
An LEP is the primary legal planning document for guiding land use and planning decisions made by Council.
Through zoning and development controls, the LEP allows Council to manage the way in which land is used to strategically plan for the region and shape and support our local communities.
Council Administrator, Rik Hart said a consolidated CCLEP has been a key deliverable of the amalgamation of the former Gosford City and Wyong Shire Councils in May 2016.
“Once in effect, developments will be assessed against a single LEP and DCP, which will help to simplify the development process for applicants and also mean that Council staff can further streamline processes to promote greater efficiency for assessment of development applications,” Hart said.
“The Consolidated LEP provides the foundation to progress further improvements to the local planning framework.
“A consolidated DCP will come into effect concurrently with the consolidated LEP.
“The next stage of updating the LEP will be the environmental lands review (also known as the deferred lands) which will be exhibited before the end of 2022.”
DPE has advised the LEP will be gazetted by June 30 and will have a one-month deferred commencement, meaning that it will come into force one month after gazettal.
This allows time for Council to switch its processes to the new LEP, as well as for applicants to familiarise themselves with the CCLEP.
Source: Media release, May 24, 2022 Central Coast Council