Vital Strategy Needs Your Help (GM Column 30 March 2019)

A major focus of the work of any council is to plan for the future. When I say that, I don’t mean the next two years, or even four, but very often we’re looking towards a horizon that is 20 or more years away.

This is the case with the draft Coffs Harbour Local Growth Management Strategy (LGMS), the first chapters of which are currently out for public comment. It is a key document that will govern how we provide a coordinated, strategic and planned approach to cater for growth in our local government area up to 2036. The introductory chapters outline who, how and where growth will occur over the coming years.

Further chapters about specific land uses are to be included in the overarching strategy and each will have a separate public exhibition process over the coming 12 months. You may be aware that we previously put out the Rural Lands chapter for public comment from mid December 2018 until the end of February this year. The results of that consultation should be reported back to Council very soon.

By planning so far in advance, we can protect and enhance the character and liveability of our communities, improve employment and educational opportunities, build the local economy and make efficient use of existing and future infrastructure.

To facilitate this, the strategy:

looks at how and where projected population and employment growth are to be accommodated; reiterates and builds on the MyCoffs Community Strategic Plan’s overarching vision for Coffs Harbour and establishes a broad place-making framework; and highlights the land use strategies Council will use to inform detailed planning investigations and controls, including individual place manuals, the Local Environmental Plan and the Development Control Plan to guide future development.

Strategic urban growth areas that have the potential to accommodate growth in the future are also identified at a broad level, but are dependant on detailed investigations around constraints and infrastructure capacity.

You can make your voice heard by going to https://haveyoursay.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/ where you can find out more about the draft strategy and make an online submission, or mail your written submission to Coffs Harbour City Council, Locked Bag 155, NSW 2450. Submissions will be welcomed until May 10 2019.