Final Draft Rural Land Strategy Presentation

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