Land Use Planning
Council undertakes land use planning to shape the future of the city through the implementation of the city’s strategic plan, Lifestyle 2020 Strategy. Land use planning is concerned with strategies to provide medium to long term strategic direction for growth and change in the city and to address environmental, social, and economic issues.
Citywide Strategic Plans
These plans apply to the entire local government area and set in place the planning framework for the city.
Lifestyle 2030 is the Council endorsed strategy produced from a review of Lifestyle 2020 Report. The document outlines the strategies necessary to manage the population and employment growth expected to occur in the city for the period until the year 2030.
Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) are legal documents that control land use and development at the local government level. Lake Macquarie City Council's princpal LEP is the Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2004. Development Control Plans (DCPs) are support documents for LEPs. They provide guidance and detailed development requirements. Lake Macquarie City Council has two main DCPs, No. 1 and No. 2.
Rezoning of Land
Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan (LMLEP) 1984; LMLEP 2000 North Wallarah and LMLEP 2004 provide the statutory framework for planning in the local government area. The Local Environmental Plans (LEP’s) identify land use zones and planning provisions including permitted and prohibited uses within each relevant zone.
The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act sets out the process to amend an LEP. It begins with an initial consultation with Council’s planning staff of your Rezoning Request or concept, of what you may be able to do with your land.
An amendment to an LEP is a lengthy process and may take from 6 to 18+ months, and requires the support of Council, and consultation with the community and State Government agencies, and finally the approval of the Minister of Planning.
The following links provide information on the rezoning process:
For further information or to make an appointment contact the Integrated Planning Department on (02) 4921 0333.
Master Plans/Structure Plans/Area Plans
Council prepares master plans and structure plans to guide future development of specific areas. On the right are links to current master plans and structure plans for areas identified as town centres within Lifestyle 2020 and within the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy.