Rural Land Use Strategy

Update December 2021

Council resolved at the 18 March 2021 Ordinary Meeting as follows:

Council Resolution 52/21

That Council:

1. Receive and note the post exhibition report Consultation Report – Draft Rural Landuse Strategy March 2021;

2. Send the Consultation Report – Draft Rural Landuse Strategy March 2021 to all who provided written feedback and place the report on SMRC YourSay page for community view;
3. Publish all submission with personal details of all individuals redacted;
4. Amend proposed Environmental zones to be maintained as existed in the Bombala, Cooma-Monaro and Snowy River LEP’s prior to merger. (i.e. remove all proposed new environmental zones as identified in the Draft Rural Landuse Strategy and Draft Settlement Strategy.);
5. Consult and work with individual landowners on the revised approach;
6. Establish a steering/advisory working group/committee as soon as practical, consisting of all Councillors and relevant staff. Permit this working group/committee to invite representatives, as necessary. The working group/committee’s principle aim is to:

a. Review and progress land use planning, zoning and methodologies used in the Draft Rural Landuse Strategy consistent with Ministerial direction(s), legislation(s) and regulation(s).

b. Completely review the methodology behind Minimum Lot Sizes

c. Review and progress the relationship between the Draft Rural Landuse Strategy and Settlement Strategy

d. Report to the Council briefing sessions, as necessary

e. Consider all feedback and amend the Draft Rural Landuse Strategy;

7. When developed, re exhibit the revised Draft Rural Landuse Strategy for 56 days for feedback;
8. When developed, re exhibit the Draft Settlement Strategy for 56 days further feedback
9. Cooma and Berridale heavy vehicle alternate routes be moved to the long term strategic plan

In relation to F - Council established a Community Reference Group (CRG), consisting of all relevant staff and Councillors. Councillors nominated community representatives to contribute to the CRG.

Six workshops were held from June to September 2021 and discussed a range of topics including;

• current dominant land uses of rural lands
• emerging uses of rural lands
• the variety of rural zones and their application across the landscape
• the methodology for determination of minimum lot size.

Staff received valuable input from the CRG and have some direction for amending the Draft Rural Land Use Strategy, including considering the use of additional rural zones and utilising a combination of holdings analysis and land capability to determine rural minimum lot size. This means that there may be considerable change in the revised Draft Rural Land Use Strategy (Version 2) compared to what was proposed in Version 1. Staff urge careful consideration and use of Version 1 content and significant decisions should not be made based on this information.

The above direction will need to be confirmed with the newly elected Council early in 2022.

Submissions closed on Monday 1 February 2021.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council has prepared the Rural Land Use Strategy to guide rural land use planning over the next 20 years. The Strategy will guide and inform the preparation of a consolidated Local Environmental Plan (LEP) for the amalgamated local government areas of Bombala, Cooma-Monaro and Snowy River.

The Rural Land Use Strategy provides a framework to guide growth and development within the rural lands of the Snowy Monaro Region to ensure the Snowy Monaro’s economy and environment are protected. The Strategy responds to the diversity in rural landscapes and established rural industries within the LGA, including agriculture, forestry and tourism. The Strategy works to balance the interests of agriculture and tourism, ensuring that both can operate without significant impacts on the other as well as elevate the significant environmental values that exist within the region.

The Strategy acknowledges the established major industries but also the emerging industries of renewable energy.

Some key issues revolve around an appropriate minimum lot size, what is primary production farming land, lot averaging provisions and preserving the rural landscape.

The key recommendations of this Strategy include:

• Land zoning to better reflect the landscape and appropriate minimum lot sizes
• Protection of agricultural land
• Protection of significant resources such as extractive industries and other major industries
• Protection of land with high environmental values
• Preserving the scenic quality of the landscape
• Review and revise the permissible uses within rural, environmental zones and special purpose zones for a comprehensive LEP; and
• Recommendations in relation to relevant clauses of the LEP that pertain to rural and environmental zones

Council seeks feedback from the community on this document as well as the Settlements Strategy which is also currently on public exhibition.

Please provide your feedback via the below form or by emailing us directly council@snowymonaro.nsw.gov.au with your comments.

Hard copies of the draft documents can be found at all Council offices and libraries:

Snowy Monaro Regional Council Offices

• Cooma - 81 Commissioner Street, Cooma
• Berridale – 2 Myack Street, Berridale
• Bombala – 71 Caveat Street Bombala
• Jindabyne – 2/1 Gippsland Street Jindabyne

Snowy Monaro Regional Libraries

• Cooma – 61 Vale Street, Cooma
• Bombala – 163 Maybe Street, Bombala
• Mobile Library Service

Submissions closed on Monday 1 February 2021. Our team is currently reviewing all feedback.

Definitions: A copy of Local Environmental Plan Definitions can be found via: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/epi-2006-155a#dict (PDF version on right of screen under 'Draft Rural Land Use Strategy and Appendices')