MIDCOAST Council is calling for measures to ensure a clear, transparent and consistent planning framework that benefits the community and affected landowners, as part of its submission in response to the NSW Government’s proposed Stage 2 NSW Coastal Reforms.

The Draft Coastal Reforms are important to the MidCoast region which incorporates numerous beaches of various formation and orientation, with exposure to a variety of coastal hazards.

As a result, the local planning, management and assessment framework is significant and complex.

“Council’s submission gives in-principle support to the initiatives and intent of the Coastal Reforms, but we are recommending that proposed maps and development criteria is included in all NSW coastal councils’ local environmental plans rather than a State plan so the information is easy to find and apply in each area,” Council’s Manager Strategic Planning Roger Busby said.

“We are also recommending that we continue to work closely with the DPE and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) to progress coastal reforms that will provide clear and effective management of our coastal areas,” he said.

MidCoast Council has adopted a collaborative approach to coastal management, reflected in the establishment of the Old Bar Manning Point Coastal Working Group, and in ongoing communication between Council and the agencies involved in the Jimmy’s Beach, Winda Woppa management program.

Council’s submission to the proposed Stage 2 Coastal Reforms endorses the provision of relevant Council mapping data to the DPE and OEH to be incorporated into an environmental planning document that provides a consistent development assessment framework for coastal management areas across NSW.

“As a larger merged Council we have been able to capitalise on expertise from staff across the former councils to prepare our submission and outline how the Coastal Reforms could be effectively understood and implemented by Council officers and landowners together” Roger Busby said.

MidCoast Council’s submission can be viewed in full on Council’s website at http://www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/News-Media/MidCoast-Council-responds-to-proposed-NSW-Coastal-Reforms.