Vision Bathurst 2040: Bathurst Regional Local Strategic Planning Statement

Council adopted the draft Bathurst Regional Local Strategic Planning Statement at its meeting held 19 July 2020. The adopted version of the LSPS is available in the document library.

Background

The NSW Government, through the planning legislation (Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979), have introduced a new requirement for a land-use based strategy for the Local Government Area, known as a Local Strategic Planning Statement. A draft Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) has been prepared for the Bathurst Region, known as Vision Bathurst 2040, which sets the direction for land-use issues for the next 20 years.

In preparing the draft Vision Bathurst 2040, Council staff have:

• consulted with the Bathurst community as part of a visioning activity in July 2019;
• consulted internally to ensure consistency with projects underway or being planned within the organization;
• consulted with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to ensure consistency with the Central West and Orana Regional Plan; and
• consulted with other government agencies and considered relevant guidance information provided by a range of State agencies.

A full copy of the draft LSPS is available in the document library.

Purpose of the Local Strategic Planning Statement

The purpose of the LSPS is to guide how land is used in the Bathurst Region to achieve desirable economic, social and environmental outcomes. Vision Bathurst 2040 outlines how Council will manage land-use change as the region moves towards a population of approximately 55,000 over the next 20 years.

The LSPS is not a Local Environmental Plan (LEP); it does not zone land nor consider individual sites. The LSPS sets the vision for how Council will manage land-use change into the future. It highlights those characteristics that make the Bathurst Region special. It outlines how to protect those characteristics that the community values. It details how Council can maximise and manage opportunities presented by change and it sets immediate and ongoing actions for the implementation of the plan.

The LSPS summaries the significant body of strategic planning work completed by Council and highlights studies and investigations that will need to be funded into the future. Unlike Council’s other land use planning studies and strategies, the LSPS will carry statutory weight, particularly in relation to rezoning proposals and development application matters.

The draft LSPS has been forwarded to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment who have determined that the draft statement is consistent with the Central West and Orana Regional Plan.

What the community has said so far

A series of workshops were held in July 2019 to identify the community’s land use vision. Over 60 individuals and groups contributed.

The top messages Council heard were:

1. Water security.
2. Housing choice and affordability.
3. Health and education services for the Region.
4. Jobs growth.
5. Fostering agricultural land uses.
6. Resilience to climate change, including protection of the environment.
7. Manage growth to protect the Region’s heritage and maintain the local character.

Vision Bathurst 2040 – the Land Use Vision:

It is recommended Council plan for the estimated Bathurst population to grow to 55,250 by 2036, an increase of 12,600 persons (2016 Dept of Planning).

The draft LSPS proposes a vision for 2040 inclusive of:

• A sustainable water supply that will meet the forecast population growth.
• A premier motor racing venue that showcases the Bathurst Region on an international stage.
• Housing diversity that meets the needs of the changing demographic, with a compact urban form to limit sprawl and protect the Region’s agricultural resource.
• A moderate living density, maintaining the rural character of the Region and being ‘different’ to metropolitan Sydney.
• The protection of the Region’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous heritage.
• The alignment of development, growth and infrastructure provision.
• Valuing the natural environment, planning for a changing climate and improving resistance to natural hazards and extreme weather events.
• Maintaining cultural and sporting heritage and continuing the development of cultural, sporting and recreation facilities to a regional standard.
• Becoming a smart community which embraces education, knowledge and technological change.

The LSPS includes nineteen planning priorities identified and grouped into four themes supported by:

• the Bathurst Regional Structure Plan map (figure 2 of the LSPS)
• the City of Bathurst Structure Plan map (figure 3 of the LSPS).

Copies of the structure plan maps are available from the document library.

Together the planning priorities and the structure plan maps will shape the land use future of the Bathurst Region.

Nineteen Planning Priorities under 4 themes:

Nineteen planning priorities are included in the draft Statement with a range of actions to achieve each priority, both short and long term, inclusive of actions that require collaboration with other partners such as the State Government.

1. Our infrastructure and transport

Planning Priority 1 - Plan for water security

Planning Priority 2 - Align development, growth and infrastructure

Planning Priority 3 - Connect the Bathurst Region

2. Our diverse and strong economy

Planning Priority 4 - Maintain a thriving local business and retail economy

Planning Priority 5 - Ensure a suitable supply of employment and urban services land

Planning Priority 6 - Protect Mount Panorama (Wahluu) as a motorsport and event precinct

Planning Priority 7 - Leverage new opportunities

Planning Priority 8 - Become a Smart city

3. Our heritage and sustainable environment

Planning Priority 9 - Protect Indigenous cultural heritage

Planning Priority 10 - Protect European and non-Indigenous heritage

Planning Priority 11 - Maximise the Region’s tourism opportunities

Planning Priority 12 - Enhance environmentally sensitive land and biodiversity

Planning Priority 13 - Protect primary production land

Planning Priority 14 - Create a sustainable Bathurst Region

Planning Priority 15 - Improve resilience to natural hazards and extreme weather events

4. Our dynamic and healthy communities

Planning Priority 16 - Provide new homes

Planning Priority 17 - Create vibrant and sustainable local villages and rural settlements

Planning Priority 18 - Deliver open space and recreation

Planning Priority 19 - Deliver social, community and cultural infrastructure