Fullerton Cove Place Strategy
Port Stephens Council (Council) in conjunction with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) are trialling the development of Place Strategies. Place Strategies are a way to look at development opportunities for nominated areas.
Fullerton Cove Place Strategy is proposed to be the first pilot site to test and assess the suitability of this process within the Hunter Region. The nominated area is outlined in the image below.
What is a Place Strategy?
A Place Strategy is a new approach that looks at the whole of a nominated area to identify the ideal outcome for an area.
This includes taking into consideration environmental constraints, infrastructure needs, economic or social requirements and local community values. This process is being used for areas that are likely to see or have the potential for residential development in the near future.
By taking into account all of the above considerations, future rezonings to allow for development can be undertaken much easier by individuals within the area where the Place Strategy identified development.
What does this mean for my land?
The Place Strategy will not change the zoning of any land. Similarly, there is no cost to you as an individual landowner for any of the studies or investigations that are being undertaken. This includes any need to undertake more detailed assessments on your site. This whole process is being managed by Council.
There may be a need for Council’s consultants to access your property to undertake assessments. This would be in circumstances where soil sampling or flora/fauna assessments are needed. This is only for the purpose of this project and is important for working out where development should or shouldn’t occur.
In the instance that a consultant requires access, we would ask for your assistance and consent for that to happen. Without express consent/permission, no one from Council or the consultant team will enter private property.
If there is a need to gain access, Council will contact you for consent and provide the specifics of the site visit.
What are the next steps?
To support this process, assess potential impacts, identify opportunities and determine needs, Council is engaging consultants to undertake relevant technical studies to support the preparation of the Place Strategy.
The next phase of this program is to further refine the development footprint and determine the required inputs needed to develop the Place Strategy. This will involve undertaking studies and assessments to identify land constraints and to inform and prepare a Development Planning Map.
We will keep you informed as this process progresses. In addition, there will be a formal public exhibition period in which the impacted community is invited to make submissions on the Place Strategy for Council's consideration.
Should you have any questions or want to discuss the above further, please feel free to contact us.
We offer free advice from 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or you can call 4988 0255 or visit us in person at our Administration Building.
