Shellharbour City Council last night adopted a Local Strategic Planning Statement that will be used to inform its 20-year land use planning vision and set key priorities for the city.
The Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) sets out a land use planning vision and determines how Council manages land now and into the future including:
- A 20-year vision for land use
- Special characteristics that contribute to local identity
- Shared community values to be maintained and enhanced
- How growth and change will be managed into the future
The LSPS provides a clear action plan on how to implement the city's vision and priorities. It also provides guidance on meeting changing needs, managing land use planning challenges and further development of the local character of Shellharbour now and into the future.
The document was prepared in line with requirements introduced in March 2018 by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
Shellharbour's LSPS is strategically linked to its Community Strategic Plan and reflects the same key areas - Community, Environment, Leadership and Economy.
Council embarked on an extensive community engagement program to provide opportunities for feedback and input from the community to assist with developing the Strategy.
Shellharbour Mayor Councillor Marianne Saliba said the community's input was both valuable and necessary to ensure the best outcome for the city.
"This document provides a road map for how our city needs to develop into the future. We have strategically planned for the city's growth to maximise potential opportunities, while still maintaining what makes Shellharbour a great place to live," Cr Saliba said.
"The LSPS responds to the unique values and characteristics of Shellharbour City, capturing community aspirations for future land use and the character of our city," she said.
The LSPS aligns with actions in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Plan, and the priorities identified in the community strategic plan. The LSPS also identifies additional planning documents that need to be developed. The LSPS will shape how Council's Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) evolve over time to meet the community's needs.
