The 2009/10 NSW Budget provides ongoing support for planning initiatives in regional areas of New South Wales.
Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, today said the Budget provides particular support for the protection and accessibility of the State’s valuable coastal assets.
“The New South Wales coastline significantly contributes to the liveability and prosperity of local areas, and the State as a whole,” Ms Keneally said.
“The State Budget has allocated $3 million in 2009/10 for the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme.
“The Scheme brings significant rural and regional coastal lands into public ownership and provides for their long-term management and care.
“A further $1.5 million for the NSW Coastline Cycleway Program will provide funding for rural and regional local councils to develop and extend cycle paths along the New South Wales coast.”
Ms Keneally said the NSW Government has also allocated $2.4 million in the 2009/10 budget to establish, operate and administer new Joint Regional Planning Panels.
“Joint Regional Planning Panels will provide strong decision making on regionally-significant projects, providing a balance of expertise, independence and local knowledge,” Ms Keneally said.
“From July to August 2009, six panels will begin operation across NSW. The panels will consist of three State Government appointed members and two nominees from the relevant local council.
“The panels will act as a consent authority and advisory body for development proposals of regional significance.
“It will be the job of the panels to stand in the shoes that previously would have been occupied by a council or myself, and make decisions on projects significant to a region.
Ms Keneally said that development applications proposed to be classified as ‘regional development’ for determination by Joint Regional Planning Panels include:
- Commercial, residential, mixed use, retail and tourism development with a capital investment value between $10 million and $100 million
- Community infrastructure and ecotourism developments more than $5 million, such as schools, community halls and child care facilities
- Certain coastal developments currently in Schedule 2 of the Major Projects SEPP
- Designated development (development needing an environmental impact statement)
- Development where the council is the proponent or has a potential conflict of interest
Ms Keneally said that in 2009/10, work will also continue on the Cities Taskforce program, expanding it into two new regional centres.
“The Cities Taskforce has already been rolled-out across six major metropolitan cities and will be expanded to the regional centres of Tweed Heads and Coffs Harbour in 2009/10,” Ms Keneally said.
“The Cities Taskforce will work with the local councils to revitalise their CBD’s and boost job-creating investment in these important regional cities.
“A new city centre plan will be created for each city, outlining how it will attract and accommodate new jobs and housing to create a thriving business hub for the region.
“Tweed Heads and Coffs Harbour are the first two major centres outside the Greater Metropolitan Region to be the subject of this strategic city-planning approach.
“These city centre plans will be two of the most important regional planning initiatives supported by this year’s budget allocation.” |
