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| Blue Mountains Local Environmental Plan 2015 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Blue Mountains Local Environmental Plan 2015 |
| Jurisdiction | New South Wales |
| Enacted | 2015 |
| Administering authority | Blue Mountains City Council |
| Status | Current |
Blue Mountains Local Environmental Plan 2015 is a statutory planning instrument applying to the Blue Mountains local government area, enacted to consolidate local land use controls with regional and state frameworks. It interfaces with instruments such as the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and regional strategies of the Greater Sydney Commission, and operates alongside state policies administered by agencies including the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment and the Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales. The plan frames development within a landscape that incorporates listed places like Katoomba, Leura, Wentworth Falls, and the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area.
The plan succeeded prior instruments and reflects amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 that reformed planning in New South Wales and followed precedents set by regional instruments such as the Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 20 and the strategic directions of the Greater Sydney Region Plan. Drafting involved statutory obligations under the Local Government Act 1993 and coordination with heritage protections under the Heritage Act 1977. It must be read alongside state instruments including the State Environmental Planning Policy No 19—Bushland in Urban Areas and NSW policies influenced by case law from courts such as the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales.
The plan articulates objectives to conserve values identified in the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage listing, to manage urban growth in centres like Katoomba and Springwood, and to integrate with transport priorities of agencies such as Transport for NSW. Principles reference biodiversity protection standards influenced by organisations like the Australian Network for Plant Conservation and landscape conservation doctrines emerging from the Australian Heritage Commission. Objectives also reflect commitments to the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 framework and align with strategic plans by the Blue Mountains Conservation Society.
Zoning maps establish land use zones comparable to model clauses in the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006 and create categories for residential areas in suburbs like Glenbrook, commercial centres including Katoomba, and environmental conservation lands abutting the Wollemi National Park and Kanangra-Boyd National Park. Controls reference permissible uses under instrument schedules, development types influenced by precedents such as Canberra's planning zones, and buffer arrangements adjacent to protected areas identified by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales). The zoning regime interfaces with infrastructure corridors promoted by the Sydney Water Corporation and responses to utility corridors overseen by EnergyAustralia.
The plan contains heritage schedules listing items comparable to entries in the State Heritage Register and references conservation approaches used in places like The Rocks, Sydney and properties associated with the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre. Environmental provisions protect vegetation communities and threatened species consistent with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and work alongside recovery planning used for species such as the koala and plants subject to listings by the New South Wales Threatened Species Scientific Committee. It adopts measures informing bushfire risk management coordinated with standards from the Rural Fire Service and cross-references ecological assessments used by the Australian National University and conservation NGOs including the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia.
Development standards specify controls on aspects such as height, floor space ratio, set-backs, and lot consolidation, echoing methodologies in instruments like the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) and drawing on urban design guidance from the Department of Planning and Environment (New South Wales). Controls include specific clauses for subdivision proximate to heritage items such as Echo Point, design review mechanisms akin to those used in North Sydney Council, and performance criteria applied in the determination practices of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. Miscellaneous provisions address infrastructure contributions and developer obligations consistent with model provisions used by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.
Implementation relies on administration by the Blue Mountains City Council, statutory approvals under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and compliance oversight that has involved amendments reflecting decisions by the New South Wales Planning Minister and planning panels including the State Planning Panel. Amendments respond to matters raised in reviews similar to reforms enacted after inquiries into planning practice in New South Wales and coordination with state instruments such as State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008. Enforcement actions reference precedents from the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales and administrative reviews involving agencies like the Office of Environment and Heritage (New South Wales).
Preparation and amendment processes included consultation with stakeholders such as the Blue Mountains Conservation Society, local chambers like the Katoomba and District Chamber of Commerce, property stakeholders represented by groups akin to the Property Council of Australia, and state agencies including Transport for NSW and the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment. Submissions and community engagement mirrored practices used in high-profile consultations for projects affecting Blue Mountains tourism, cultural events at venues like the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, and conservation campaigns involving organisations such as BirdLife Australia and the National Trust of Australia (NSW).
Category:Local environmental plans of New South Wales