DLEP comment period extended

Gosford Council has extended the public exhibition period for the Draft Local Environment Plan 2009 by four weeks to give local stakeholders enough time to make submissions and voice their concerns.

Submissions will now be accepted until Wednesday, May 5.

Gosford mayor Cr Chris Holstein said, to date, community response and engagement with the draft plan had been encouraging and an extension had been granted to allow "as many people as possible" to ask questions or voice their concerns.

"Around 500 people have attended the 12 information sessions held around the region on weekends and evenings," Cr Holstein said.

"Information booths set up at Woy Woy and Erina libraries and at Gosford council's administration building have also been well attended.

"Additionally, hundreds of telephone and email enquiries have been received by council staff.

"This response shows that our community cares about our city and where we are headed.

"It is encouraging to work together with our community to lay the future foundations for Gosford City.

"In light of this, an extension to the public exhibition and submission period has been granted to provide greater opportunity for as many residents as possible to voice any questions or concerns they may have relating to the plan."

Council's manager for integrated planning Mr Eddie Love said council staff were working with community members to allay any environmental concerns residents may have with the draft plan.

"Gosford Council initiated its Coastal Open Space System (COSS) in 1984, which is unique in NSW.

"Council has been steadily acquiring lands to set the system up ever since.

"COSS land is managed along with other natural reserves under the Bushland Plan of Management.

"This plan was prepared under the Local Government Act, 1993, and sets out how the land may and may not be used and how it is managed.

"The plan designates COSS land as bushland.

"Under the current planning controls, COSS land (which is in council ownership) is mostly zoned Open Space Recreation 6a, Open Space Special Purposes 6b or Open Space Regional 6d with a small portion being zoned Conservation 7a.

"The 6a and 6b zones permit recreation areas and camping grounds/caravan parks, which has been the case for over 10 years."

Mr Love said the new LEP template does not provide a "natural bushland" type zone for land in council ownership, although this was requested by Gosford and other councils in NSW when the template was in draft form.

"As a result of the LEP template having no provision for natural bushland type zones, Gosford council chose to place the COSS lands into the comparable zone to the current 6a, 6b and 6d Open Space zones, (being RE1 Public Recreation) so these lands will be managed in the same manner which has occurred since 1993," Mr Love said.

"Council's Environment Committee has representation from the Central Coast Environment Network and other environmentally-focused organisations.

"We are working with these organisations to ensure that council continues to enhance and protect our natural environment, while catering for the future growth of our region."

Gosford council will receive submissions on the Draft LEP 2009 until 5pm on Wednesday, May 5.

Submissions can be lodged on council's website at www.gosford.nsw.gov.au or emailed to lep@gosford.nsw.gov.au or posted to Gosford City Council, PO Box 21 Gosford NSW 2250.

Press release, 6 Apr 2010 Cr Chris Holstein, Gosford mayor