The next steps in the development of one Local Environment Plan (LEP) covering the whole Northern Beaches area have been resolved.  

At the Council meeting last week, an Extraordinary Council Meeting was endorsed to be held on 17 June to consider submitting a Planning Proposal to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure (the Department) for Gateway Determination. The Planning Proposal outlines the contents of the draft LEP and reasoning behind the proposed controls in the draft LEP document.

This will follow the consideration of the Planning Proposal by the independent Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel at its meeting on 23 May 2024.

An LEP is a state government requirement for all local government areas to guide land use planning and development decisions within the area. The Northern Beaches is currently operating under 4 different LEPs which will be replaced by one comprehensive LEP for the whole local government area and will include deferred lands identified in the former Warringah LGA.

The development of the draft LEP and Planning Proposal has been informed by a comprehensive range of studies on local hazards, conservation areas, traffic and transport and workforce, and extensive community consultation over 4 years.  

Once feedback has been provided by the Department, Council will launch further consultation with the community, exhibiting the Planning Proposal as well as a draft consolidated Development Control Plan, containing the detailed development controls for the area.

Mayor Sue Heins said these were important next steps towards the adoption of one Northern Beaches LEP.

“Combining 4 LEPs into one is no small task but this is a critical document for our area and it’s absolutely important we take the time to get it right,” Mayor Heins said.  

“That’s why we have engaged with the community and stakeholders at numerous points over the last 4 years and will continue to do so up until its adoption.

“This draft LEP has been developed using the 8 principles crafted with community input in our Local Strategic Planning Statement including protecting our environment, avoiding intensification and inappropriate development, safeguarding employment lands and providing adequate public open space and community facilities.

“Where there are proposed changes to existing LEP provisions, they are in line with these principles.

“Ultimately our aim is to harmonise and extend existing provisions to create a consistent, transparent, and fair approach to land-use planning that is in keeping with our local character and place requirements.

“We will continue to keep our community updated as we progress through the next steps and move to the next formal consultation period expected by the middle of next year.

“In the meantime we are also advocating strongly against the NSW Government proposed housing reforms which run contrary to all the work that has gone into getting the LEP to this point. We hope the Government recognises Council’s methodical and evidence-based approach to planning growth in our area as illustrated by the draft Planning Proposal.”