Port Stephens Council has endorsed the Karuah Place Plan – the first in a new series of place plans designed to improve liveability, increase wellbeing and deliver economic growth.
Mayor Ryan Palmer said it's a great outcome for the community.
"Karuah is a growing village with a unique connection to the local environment. The river, wetlands and natural bushland provides valuable habitat for native wildlife and is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna," Mayor Palmer said.
"The Karuah Place Plan celebrates this connection while striking a balance between the need for new housing, business growth and job opportunities.
"The plan identifies two important biodiversity corridors, alongside potential employment zones and the opportunity to develop 800 new residential lots.
"It also contains short, medium and long-term actions to inspire community involvement in creating a better place through conservation, beautification and civic pride projects, activations and event opportunities."
Strategy and Environment Section Manager Brock Lamont said the community has played a pivotal role in developing and refining the final plan.
"Place plans, importantly, start with the community and their values and aspirations for their place," Mr Lamont said.
"We started by asking more than 3,700 Port Stephens residents what they valued most about their place in our first Liveability Index in September 2020.
"We then used this data, along with local community feedback from surveys, drop in sessions, key stakeholder meetings and an online mapping tool, to further shape the draft Karuah Place Plan, which went on public exhibition in November 2021.
"We've again listened to the community and have made changes to the final plan based on the feedback, including a commitment by Council to undertake a traffic and transport study of Tarean Road and commitment to more detailed consultation on future park and playground facilities.
"People want to see action, not plans that sit on the shelf, and the Karuah Place Plan is a wonderful example of how we can plan for the future of our region, together."
Council's new Place Planning Project Manager, within the Vibrant Places team, will now work with the community to drive the implementation of initiatives aligned to the plan to make Karuah an even better place to live.
A networking event to launch the Karuah Place Plan is being planned for April, to give the Karuah community, local businesses and Council the opportunity to make new connections and support each other to realise the vision of the plan.
To view the Karuah Place Plan, visit portstephens.nsw.gov.au/karuah-place-plan
