Rural Land Strategy- Exhibited November 2017 to February 2018

The exhibition period for the Draft Rural Land Strategy has now closed. Council will now consider the Draft along with received submissions.

Anyone seeking more information about the Draft Rural Land Strategy is invited to a drop-in session at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre's Canvas and Kettle Room on Thursday February 1 from 7pm to 8:30pm.

The session will cover the more than 140 proposed actions in the Draft Strategy which will shape the future of rural land use in Tweed Shire.

The proposed actions include:

• Support for rural tourism opportunities which protects agricultural land, the environment and local character
• Increased diversity of rural housing by allowing opportunity for detached dual occupancy dwellings on rural properties larger than 40 hectares
• On properties greater than 10 hectares, Secondary Dwellings will also be made permissible with consent
• Water bottling facilities will be prohibited in Tweed Shire
• For those enquiring about buying in or near rural areas, notifications will be made available on planning certificates and brochures advising of the implications of living in areas that might be affected by agricultural and farming operations
• Council requirements will be more transparent and planning procedures streamlined where possible
• Opportunities to meet with Council staff early in the planning process to assist in identification of issues and problem solving for proposed development
• A new section in Tweed Development Control Plan 2008 providing guidelines for rural land related matters
• Increased flexibility in the range of development permissible with consent
• Increased opportunities for roadside stalls that support sale of local produce
• Action to minimise impediments to innovation, diversification, and value-adding of agricultural and rural industries
• Character statements will be prepared with the community for rural locations to ensure protection of key features of the landscape
• Guidelines will be developed for the siting and design of dwellings and associated infrastructure
• Amalgamation of agricultural land to ensure access for future agricultural purposes will be supported
• Options for the conversion of existing legal rural landsharing communities to alternative legal title which provides greater autonomy of shareholders will also be considered
• Opportunities for further subdivision within existing small lot rural-residential clusters will be considered
• If a property does not have a dwelling the landowner will have 2 years to prove that a dwelling entitlement exists after which time no further dwelling entitlement investigations will be conducted by Council
• The current requirement to be remote before an application can be lodged to build a Rural Workers’ Dwellings will be removed

Based on broad community consultation, and detailed investigations, Council has prepared a draft strategy for the planning and management of rural land in Tweed Shire for the next 20 years.

The Draft Strategy presents more than 140 actions consistent with the 9 Policy Directions endorsed by Council in the previous stage of the project.

The Draft Strategy seeks to present a balanced and progressive approach where agricultural and rural activities exist in harmony with environmental and scenic values, rural character is enhanced, and employment opportunities encouraged through innovation, by a skilled and resilient community.

Council invites feedback on this draft document from all interested in the future of rural land in Tweed Shire.

Submissions may be made to tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au or via post to:

Rural Land Strategy
General Manager
Tweed Shire Council
PO Box 816
MURWILLUMBAH NSW 2484

To find out more during the exhibition period:

• Review the exhibition documents here or at one of the following locations:
  • Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre (8.30am to 4.15pm weekdays)
  • Murwillumbah Library (9:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Wednesday & Friday; 9:00am to 7:00pm Thursday; 9:00am to 1:00pm Saturday)
  • Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre (9am to 4pm Monday to Friday)
  • Uki Post Office (8.30am – 5pm Monday to Friday)
  • Tweed Heads Civic and Cultural Centre (8.30am to 4.15pm weekdays)
  • Tweed Heads Library (9:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday9:00am to 12:00pm Saturday)
  • Tyalgum Store (7:00am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday; 7:00am to 5:00pm Saturday, and 7:00am to 4:00pm Sunday)
  • Chillingham Village Store (8.30am to 7pm - 7 days)
  • Kingscliff Library (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9.30am – 5pm; Wednesday 9.30am – 7pm, and Saturday 9am - 12 noon)
  • Burringbar General Store (Monday to Saturday 7am - 6pm, Sunday 8am - 5.30pm)

It’s time to consider the options for a Rural Land Strategy being developed by Council.

An Options Paper for the strategy has gone on exhibition for public comment until 4 September 2015, as part of consultation for the strategy.

The Options Paper, developed by consultants GHD, includes the consultants’ assessment of possible actions to address issues identified in previous stages of the four-stage process to create the strategy.

Council is now consulting with the community about the options, before deciding which options should be included in the final strategy.

As part of the current exhibition period, a series of community information sessions is being held at centres throughout Tweed Shire on 27 July and 28 July (see key dates for details).

Visit the Resources library on this page to see the Options Paper.

Having trouble downloading the Options Paper? Visit the FAQs on this page to see where printed copies of the Options Paper are available to read.

Further information is also available at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/onexhibition or by contacting Council’s Strategic Planning & Urban Design Unit on (02) 6670 2503.

Submissions on the content of the Options Paper must be made in writing and received by Council no later than close of business on Friday 4 September 2015. They can be sent to:

Rural Land Strategy – Options Paper

General Manager

Tweed Shire Council

PO Box 816

MURWILLUMBAH NSW 2484

Click here to send an emailed submission

Four community information sessions will be held at centres throughout Tweed Shire, as part of the As part of the exhibition period for the Options Paper: Options for the future of rural land in the Tweed:

• Piggabeen Hall: Monday 27 July, 1.30pm - 3pm
• Tyalgum Hall: Monday 27 July, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
• Burringbar School of Arts (Burringbar Hall): Tuesday 28 July, 1.30pm - 3pm
• Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre Auditorium: Tuesday 28 July, 6pm – 7.30pm

Drawing on community engagement commenced in early 2013, the following documents have been prepared for the community's consideration and feedback and are now on public exhibition:

A comprehensive guide to known resource material relevant to rural land in the Tweed and a draft land capability statement, based on previously published information.

Draft Issues Analysis

An overview and analysis of the key issues relevant to the future management of rural land in the Tweed, based on research and feedback gathered during community engagement to date.

These documents are also available to view in hard copy at the following locations:

• Chillingham Village Store (8.30am to 7pm, 7 days)
• Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre (8.30am to 4.15pm weekdays)
• Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre (9am to 4pm weekdays)
• Uki Post Office (8.30am to 5pm weekdays)
• Tweed Heads Civic Centre (8.30am to 4.15pm weekdays)
• Tyalgum Store (7.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, and 7.30am to 12.30pm Sunday)

Council invites feedback on these draft documents from all interested stakeholders and members of the community.

Submissions must be received by close of business on Monday 16 June 2014 and may be made to tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au or via post to:

Rural Land Strategy

General Manager

Tweed Shire Council

PO Box 816

MURWILLUMBAH  NSW  2484

For further details, please contact Council's Planning Reform unit on (02) 6670 2503.

Council has appointed a Rural Land Strategy reference panel, which comprises 10 people with a diverse range of experience but who share a common interest in the future of rural land in the Tweed.

 

While the reference panel will meet infrequently, its input to the technical review of draft documents will be critical in ensuring the Rural Land Strategy is as up-to-date and as relevant as possible.

The members of the reference panel are:

• Max Boyd - Dulguigan

• Colin Brooks - Kynnumboon

• Michael Davis - Crabbes Creek

• Anne Duke - Tyalgum

• Rhonda James - Cudgera Creek

• Christopher Lyndon - Cabarita Beach

• Ian McBean - Cumbalum

• Robert Quirk - Duranbah

• Tom Senti - Murwillumbah

• Peter Smith - Kunghur

Detailed information about the panel including its members, their background and a copy of the reference panel charter are both available from the Documents and information section on this page.  

The panel will be chaired by Council Senior Strategic Planner, Stuart Russell.

The reference panel was formed to review draft documents to ensure they fully considered matters and are relevant to rural lands in the Tweed.

Expressions of Interest were called for qualified professionals, experienced local rural landowners and other persons with a direct and recognised interest in the future of rural land in the Tweed. The panel will provide a technical review of draft documents before they go on public exhibition, and act as a technical resource to inform and guide best land use practices and outcomes of the Rural Land Strategy.

The panel will convene for the remainder of the year as the final draft Rural Land Strategy is prepared.

A second round of community issues forums will be staged for the Rural Land Strategy in mid-July.

Dates have been confirmed for a series of four forums, where consultants EnPlan Partners will present their findings to date and discuss issues confronting the future of rural land in the Tweed.

 

Second round of Issues Forums:

Wednesday 17 July

• Cabarita Beach Sports Centre (Raiders) Tweed Coast Road from 10am-noon.
• South Sea Islander Room at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre, Brett Street, Tweed Heads from 5.30-7.30pm.

 Thursday 18 July

• Tyalgum Community Hall from 10am-noon.
• Murwillumbah Civic Centre Auditorium, Murwillumbah from 5.30-7.30pm.

More than 150 Tweed residents took the opportunity to meet with Council officers during an initial round of Stage 2 Issues Forums during May and June.

Further information, including a Draft Discussion Paper and Draft Resource Inventory and Rural Land Capability Assessment, are available on Council’s website at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au from Tuesday 3 July 2013.

Enquiries can be forwarded to Council’s Planning Reform Unit on (02) 6670 2503.

A Community Discussion Paper for the Tweed's Rural Land Strategy has been released by consultants EnPlan Partners.

The community discussion paper was released on 2 July for consideration by the public before a second round of Stage 2 Issues Forums on 17 and 18 July 2013.

Dates and details of the issues forums are available here. 

EnPlan Partners has also created a Draft Resource Inventory and Land Capability Assessment, including a guide to resource materials relevant to rural land in Tweed Shire.