Port Stephens LEP 2013 - Amendment to Schedule 2 Exempt Development (Water Storage Facilities)

The planning proposal submitted sought to amend Port Stephens LEP 2013 by:1) adding 'water storage facilities (farm dam)' to Schedule 2 Exempt Development for land zoned RU1 Primary Production or RU2 Rural Landscape;2) expanding on the current State Environmental Planning Policy SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 subdivision provisions by adding Council's proposed subdivision / realignment of boundary provisions to Schedule 2 Exempt Development, to allow significantly more flexibility than the Code SEPP currently provides; and3) adding a clause in Part 4 Principal Development Standards to enable exceptions to the minimum lot size standards in rural and environmental zones, allowing the creation of one or more undersized lots. Council on 14 May 2015 requested the Department progress only item 1) "water storage facilities (farm dam)" for formal gateway consideration at this time. Council intends to provide further justification and information to support the progress of items 2) and 3) to Gateway as part of a separate future planning proposal. In preparing this proposal Council should consult the Department of Primary Industries and the Office of Environment and Heritage concerning the proposed amending subdivision / realignment of boundary provisions.