Draft Rural Land and Local Housing Strategy Summary

Have a look at our draft Rural Land and Local Housing Strategies, two important planning documents that will guide how we plan and manage Maitland’s rural lands and housing for the next 20 years.

Through extensive consultation, you’ve told us you want to see a change in the way our rural lands and housing is planned and managed – these strategies are the result of what you’ve told us.

Draft Local Housing Strategy 2041 Summary The Draft Maitland Local Housing Strategy (LHS) looks at what types of future housing will be needed, where it can be best located and how we can work with stakeholders to help influence better housing outcomes.

THE DRAFT LHS IS OUR RESPONSE TO: • Accommodate steady growth (an additional 55,000 residents by 2041) • Address limited housing diversity and choice, including affordable options • Ageing population and changing household/family structures • Guide future infrastructure planning and delivery related to housing • Preserve rural landscapes and the environment • Plan for increased densities near urban centres and train stations

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS: • Maximise the potential of existing urban areas, close to public transport and services • Improve planning, design, and environmental outcomes in new housing development • Enable infill development opportunities and increased densities in the right locations to facilitate a greater mix of housing types • Work with the key stakeholders to deliver infrastructure at the right time and in the right location • Introduce new land use zones and development controls

FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR FUTURE PLANNING OF HOUSING: The draft LHS builds on seven planning principles that serve as a foundation for future planning and decision making to achieve better housing outcomes across the city.

1. Provide the right type of housing in the right locations to suit our growing and changing population 2. Provide greater housing choice by encouraging a range of different housing types, sizes and tenures in appropriate locations 3. Encourage infill housing and increased densities in different neighbourhood contexts to facilitate a greater mix of housing types and 15 minute neighbourhoods 4. Achieve high quality urban design and better planning outcomes from all forms of residential development 5. Increase the supply of affordable housing in Maitland through public and private development 6. Promote resilient and environmentally sustainable outcomes through appropriately located and designed housing development 7. Plan and coordinate the timely delivery of infrastructure required to enable greenfield release areas, and make more efficient use of existing infrastructure in established urban areas for infill housing.

The draft LHS builds on the NSW Government’s planning priorities identified in the Hunter Regional Plan and Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan as well Council’s long term land use vision established in the Maitland Local Strategic Planning Statement 2040+ and Community Strategic Plan.

Draft Rural Lands Strategy 2041 Summary Our draft Rural Land Strategy (RLS) is an important plan that will guide how we respond to the pressures on Maitland’s rural lands while increasing economic opportunity and protecting the natural, ecological and scenic quality of rural areas.

The draft RLS includes a detailed assessment of rural lands, its opportunities, constraints and issues – such as rural land in Maitland being highly fragmented, with 70% of rural land holdings having a minimum lot size of 10ha or less.

The draft plan supports a diverse range of activities including agriculture, rural industries, tourism, extractive industries, rural housing, and recreation spaces as well as recognising the unique environmental and cultural value of our rural lands.

THE DRAFT RLS IS OUR RESPONSE TO: • Ongoing pressures on rural land due to strong population growth • Highly fragmented rural lands • Protect Maitland’s highly valued scenic rural landscape • Address potential adverse impacts on rural land from non-agricultural activities • Guide investment and innovations to support local economic growth and diversification

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DRAFT STRATEGY: • Avoid further fragmentation of high value agricultural land (i.e. retain the 40ha minimum lot size) • Encourage consolidation of fragmented land to increase agricultural productivity and viability on rural land • Avoid land use conflict and provide for compatible rural uses in defined areas through planning instruments • Strengthen development controls for rural lands such as dual occupancy, flooding, and land use buffers • Introduce planning controls to guide agribusiness and agritourism opportunities such as market gardening.

KEY PRINCIPLES IN OUR FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF RURAL LANDS: • Protect high value agricultural land and avoid further fragmentation of rural land • Avoid, minimise and mitigate impacts from existing and new land uses on high value agricultural land • Guide and manage rural housing locations and types to minimise land use conflict and avoid further fragmentation of rural land • Support diversification of rural economy to respond to changing agriculture and recognise its contribution to local economy • Protect, retain, and enhance the natural environment and heritage in rural areas of Maitland • Respond to the effects of climate change on rural land, build resilience and adapt to natural hazards • Capitalise on Maitland’s locational advantages to embrace opportunities to connect and expand rural market access.

The Strategy is consistent with the land use vision established in the Maitland Local Strategic Planning Statement 2040+, as well as priorities identified in the Hunter Regional Plan and Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan for the city.