Council to seek special conservation zoning

Central Coast Council will write to the NSW Minister for Planning to ask that a special E5 environmental zone be included in the NSW Standard Instrument Principal Local Environment Plan.

The council would use the zoning to protect Coastal Open Space System public land, which is assigned for conservation which is not part of NSW National Parks or Reserves.

The proposal was unanimously endorsed at the 2017 Local Government Conference.

Central Coast Mayor Cr Jane Smith said the E5 zoning would assure the long-term protection of the conservation land "currently protected under E2 zoning, which is broadly defined and open to interpretation".

"This new zone would ensure that identified land under the ownership of Council can be protected for our community and future generations."

The System consists of over 70 natural reserves set aside for plant and animal habitats and nature-based recreation and includes woodland ridgelines, gallery rainforests, steep cliffs, wetlands and creeks.

The recommendation was brought forward from the Council's COSS Committee meeting held on May 23 and endorsed by Council on June 25.

SOURCE:

Media release, 26 Jun 2018

Jane Smith, Central Coast Council