2. STRATEGIC PLANNING FRAMEWORK

This section outlines the strategic planning framework that supports the Morisset Place Strategy, including the local, regional and state plans that apply to the area.

LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATE DIRECTIONS

Planning and development in Morisset is guided by state and local planning instruments. These planning instruments are administered by the NSW Government and Lake Macquarie City Council. The NSW Government and Council have varying levels of responsibility for the administration of the relevant planning instruments.

State And Regional Strategic Planning

The NSW Government is responsible for:

The Hunter Regional Plan 2041

The Hunter Regional Plan 2041 (HRP 2041) is a 20-year land use plan prepared by the NSW Government under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

The plan aims to unlock sustainable growth opportunities and investments, as well as housing choice and lifestyle opportunities, to retain the Hunter’s position as a leading regional economy in Australia.

To support this aim, HRP 2041 identifies Morisset as a regionally significant growth area, which along with the supporting local centres of Cooranbong and Wyee, represents the largest future growth area in the Central Coast and Hunter, and will be a major point of connection between Greater Newcastle and Central Coast communities.

The identification of Morisset as a regionally significant growth area in HRP 2041 supports further investigation, tailored planning responses, activation and specific infrastructure investments to facilitate growth in the area.

Vision statement

The vision described for the Morisset regionally significant growth area in HRP 2041 is: Morisset will emerge as a regionally significant mixed-use centre supporting diverse businesses and services, as well as opportunities for more intensive multi-storey commercial, mixed-use and residential development. Land release will be staged to optimise infrastructure delivery. Easy connections will be maintained with the emerging centres of Warnervale and Lake Munmorah. Coordinated planning will benefit the district’s communities and businesses, with road network improvements and partnerships between government, industry and the Biraban and Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Councils. With the closure of mines and major power stations, Morisset’s economy will cater for renewable energy and circular economy developments, a growing lifestyle and tourism market, health services, goods distribution and urban food production.

Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan 2036

The Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan 2036 (GNMP 2036), published by the NSW Government in 2018, sets out strategies and actions supporting growth across Cessnock City, Lake Macquarie City, Maitland City, Newcastle City and Port Stephens communities, which together make up Greater Newcastle.

The strategic metropolitan planning approach helps to achieve the vision of HRP 2041 by identifying programs that work towards the actions of both GNMP 2036 and HRP 2041.

In GNMP 2036, Morisset is identified as a strategic centre located in the metro frame surrounding Greater Newcastle. These metro frame centres are located by the water or the bush and have a strong identity, high amenity and a sense of place. Morisset will provide local housing and job opportunities, and will be designed to maintain the coastal and green outlooks, improve access to open space and retain the identity of places that collectively form Greater Newcastle.

Local Strategic Planning

Lake Macquarie City Council is responsible for:

Lake Mac 2032 - Community Strategic Plan

Lake Mac 2032 is the Community Strategic Plan (CSP) for Lake Macquarie City Council. It outlines the vision, goals and actions to guide the development of the city for the next decade. The plan was developed in collaboration with the community and aims to make Lake Macquarie a sustainable, connected and vibrant city that is a great place to live, work and play.

The plan focuses on seven strategic directions: Unique landscapes, Lifestyle and wellbeing, Mobility and accessibility, Diverse economy, Connected communities, Creativity and Shared decisionmaking. Each direction has a set of objectives, strategies and actions that are designed to achieve the overarching goal of creating a more liveable and sustainable city.

Lake Mac 2032 supports all the work that Council does, including establishing the broader strategic planning framework that guides growth and development across Lake Macquarie.

Local Strategic Planning Statement 2022

Council is responsible for setting the longterm vision for land-use planning in the city in collaboration with the community. This vision is outlined in our Lake Macquarie Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS)

The LSPS contains planning priorities and actions for the city, striving for Lake Macquarie to be one of the most productive, adaptable, sustainable and liveable places in Australia.

The planning statement identifies Charlestown, Glendale and Morisset as “regionally significant centres providing a wide range of services, community facilities, retail and employment to a wide spatial catchment”. The LSPS points out that the Cooranbong, Morisset and Wyee areas have considerable opportunities for urban development, and that Morisset’s location near the Central Coast, M1 Motorway and Northern Rail Line makes this area a sensible location for growth and affordable and diverse housing development, with easy access to nearby population and employment areas and main transport infrastructure. The LSPS includes directions for developing Morisset while preserving heritage and environmental values, improving the active transport network and developing a bustling local hub in Morisset town centre.

2008 Structure Plan for Morisset

Council adopted a broad Structure Plan for Morisset in November 2008. The Structure Plan is a strategic planning document guiding future urban development. The principles in the plan was applied to later amendments to the Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan, and Lake Macquarie Development Control Plans for the area. The Place Strategy will replace the Structure Plan.

Other Council strategic plans

Council has a range of adopted strategies that will inform the Place Strategy, such as the Housing Strategy, the Urban Greening and the Urban Heat Strategy, Walking, Cycling and Better Streets Strategy, Community Facilities Strategy, the Arts, Heritage and Cultural Plan, Destination Management Plan, and recreation and sports facilities strategies.

The Place Strategy in relation to the local, state and federal planning framework

Local Government Act 1993

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983

Development And Planning Controls

Planning and development in Morisset is guided by a number of state and local planning instruments:

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, which sets out major development concepts and principals including Part 4, which deals with development applications

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000, which contains all the regulations for the development concept and principles found in the Act.

State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs), which can set out when development consent is required, design principles and often nominates the consent authority for specific types of development. They provide a state-wide framework for allowing or prohibiting certain types of development considering infrastructure and coastal protection. The SEPPs can override Council’s planning guidelines.

Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2014

The Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan (LMLEP) 2014 is made under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, and establishes zones of land, such as environmental, rural, residential, business and industrial. Each zone specifies which developments are permitted with consent, permitted without consent, or prohibited. All land, privately-owned, leased or publicly owned is subject to these controls. The LMLEP also identifies other planning provisions such as maximum building heights and minimum lot sizes. The LMLEP consists of a written document and a series of maps. The figures on pages 16 and 17 show the current land use zones and Local Area Plans in the Lake Macquarie Development Control Plan within the Place Strategy area.

Lake Macquarie Development Control Plan

The Lake Macquarie Development Control Plan (LMDCP) 2014 is the supporting document for the Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2014. It provides guidance and details requirements for development that should be considered when preparing a Development Application (DA). The LMDCP contains general controls for different zones and land uses, and detailed plans for specific geographic areas.

Within the Place Strategy focus area, these specific area plans apply:

10.5: Morisset Town Centre

11.7:

12.7:

12.8:

12.9:

Once the framework for development in Morisset is established through the Place Strategy, updates to the Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan will follow.