Community Connect Issue 47

HAVE YOUR SAY ON CHANGES TO BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES

The Department of Planning and Environment is exhibiting the translation of existing Business and Industrial zones into new Employment zones.

Public exhibition is now open until 12 July 2022.

This is the implementation stage of a reform that replaces Business and Industrial zones with new employment zones within individual local environmental plans across NSW.

A Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is the primary legal planning document for guiding land use and planning decisions made by council, and each zone outlined in the plan contains distinct planning objectives and lists the specific land uses that can be undertaken.

What does this mean for Ballina Shire?

The employment zone changes are generally minor for Ballina Shire and will not significantly change council’s focus within the shire’s existing retail, commercial and industrial areas. The State’s proposed zones will not be applied to any areas outside of those already zoned.

Have your say

Communities can identify local changes and make a specific submission on the proposed translation and associated detail relevant to their local areas through the department’s Planning Portal.

To make a submission visit planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ employment-zones

For general information on the reform process visit planning.nsw.gov.au/employment-zones-reform.

Following the exhibition period, the Department of Planning and Environment will work with councils to finalise implementation ahead of the new zones coming into force on 1 December 2022.

For enquiries contact the Department of Planning and Environment on 1300 420 596 or email employment.zones@ planning.nsw.gov.au