Land

Planning and development

Kiama Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 1996 is the main instrument used by Council for land-use planning and development decisions. The LEP provides land use zones that indicate what is permitted or restricted within certain areas of land and what conditions apply. The LEP is currently being reviewed, with an updated plan to be developed by 2007.

Kiama Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 1996 includes Environmental Protection Zones that are designed to manage and protect environmental assets such as scenic areas, foreshores and wetlands, and these zones carry certain development restrictions. An overlay to the zones is the areas classified as High Conservation Value. The LEP describes the objectives of such areas and what is permissible within the areas. High Conservation Areas occur on approximately 26% of the municipality.

Erosion and sedimentation

Erosion, caused by either wind or water, is common in areas that have been cleared of vegetation, are on steep slopes, or are close to waterways. Soil erosion by water also causes the additional problem of sedimentation of waterways, as soils are washed into creeks and stormwater drains during rain. Wind erosion is of particular concern within sand dune and beach environments.

Contaminated land

When land that has previously been used for industrial, commercial or rural purposes is reclaimed for more sensitive uses, such as housing, there is the risk that the land may be contaminated. Certain activities have the potential to cause land contamination. The degree to which the land has been contaminated as a result of the former activity must be determined and any necessary remediation should be carried out prior to any re-development. A full list of such activities can be found in Appendix 1 of Development Control Plan No. 37 - Contaminated Land. (pdf 351 KB)

Current projects and policies

Building Sustainability Index

The Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) was developed by the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources to assess the potential performance of residential developments against a range of sustainability indices. BASIX is a mandatory part of the development approval process for all new residential developments in Kiama Municipality from 1 July 2005.

BASIX is a web-based planning tool for councils and proponents of residential dwellings to assess the potential performance of their development against a set of sustainability indices:

water
stormwater
energy
indoor amenity
landscaping
waste materials
transport
social.

Development Control Plan No. 37 - Contaminated Land

Development Control Plan No. 37 - Contaminated Land (pdf 351 KB) provides a framework for the integration of land contamination management into the planning and development process, and aims to:

ensure that changes of land-use will not increase the risk to health and the environment
avoid inappropriate restrictions on land-use
provide information to support decision-making and to inform the community.

All development applications and re-zonings must consider whether the land in question has been subject to a potentially contaminating activity. If after investigation, it is found that the land is contaminated, it must be remediated prior to further development.

Development control and enforcement

Council places conditions on development approvals and to minimise the likelihood of contamination from potentially contaminating activities.

Council's Environmental Health Officer and Ranger Services Officers investigate complaints received relating to erosion and sedimentation and potentially contaminating activities. Clean-up notices, Prevention notices or Penalty Infringement notices for offences may be issued by these officers under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.

External links

Last updated: Wednesday 11 November, 2009