City of Newcastle is proposing to amend the planning controls for development applications located in the area immediately surrounding the New Lambton landslip zone.
The amendment would require landslide and landslip risk to be considered for land in the area that has been identified as potentially susceptible to future movement.
This will ensure future development is appropriately assessed and designed to manage risk.
The proposal responds to the publicly available findings of the detailed geotechnical investigation that was completed following the May 2025 natural disaster, which confirmed it as the largest residential landslip in Australian history.
City of Newcastle has contacted owners of the properties that may be affected by the change to provide additional information and discuss the proposed planning controls.
A public briefing was also held Tuesday evening to provide information to Councillors and the community about the updated planning controls, which will be introduced through a planning proposal to amend the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012.
The planning proposal will be considered at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 22 September and if endorsed, will be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for a gateway determination.
If approved by the NSW Government, the planning proposal will be publicly exhibited by City of Newcastle, with affected property owners, nearby landowners and the wider community given the opportunity to provide a submission. Council will consider all submissions before making a final decision.
The new clause and landslip risk map would be inserted into the Newcastle Local Environment Plan 2012 and work alongside existing planning development controls already in place that manage landslide risk.
As part of ongoing recovery planning for the New Lambton landslip, City of Newcastle began new geotechnical investigations this month as part of planning for the work required for the long-term stabilisation of the site.
Ongoing monitoring on site has not recorded any significant movement or trends that indicate the size of the landslip zone has increased.
The extent of the area where stabilisation will be required will be defined as part of the detailed design work, with planning to continue into 2027 to determine the most appropriate measures.
City of Newcastle is continuing to discuss the funding required from the NSW Reconstruction Authority for the stabilisation work and compensation to affected residents, with timing of an approved funding program still to be determined.
These conversations continue to occur in a positive manner.
