Development Control Plan
The Port Stephens Development Control Plan 2014 (DCP) provides further guidance to the Port Stephens Local Environmental Plan 2013 (LEP). It was adopted by Council on Tuesday 14 July 2015 and became effective on Thursday 6 August 2015.
The DCP is available in separate sections or as a complete document below:
- DCP Section A — Introduction (PDF 1.2 MB)
- DCP Section B — General Provisions (PDF 1.4 MB)
- DCP Section C — Development Types (PDF 1 MB)
- DCP Section D — Specific Areas (PDF 7.7 MB)
- DCP Section E — Schedules (PDF 521 KB)
- Port Stephens Development Control Plan 2014 (PDF 11 MB)
Natural Systems technical specifications:
- Biodiversity Technical Specification (PDF 2.6 MB) – this document replaces tree, vegetation and nest box technical specifications.
- Ecological Impact Assessment Guideline (PDF 1.1 MB)
- Landscape Technical Specification (PDF 512KB)
- Noxious Weeds Technical Specification (PDF 52KB)
- Guide to developing a Weed Management Plan (PDF 228KB)
Water Sensitive Urban Design Strategy areas
There are a number of locations for which a Water Sensitive Urban Design Strategy (5.4 MB) has been prepared and endorsed by Council. This document has been prepared for the purposes of Objective B4.C of the Port Stephens Development Control Plan 2014.
Amendments
The table below describes amendments made to the DCP since its adoption.
The amendment gives effect to Council’s resolution of 27 February 2024. The amendment makes changes to Part B8 Road Network and Parking and introduces objectives and development controls for new development to be electric vehicle ready.
The amendment gives effect to Council's resolution of 23 May 2023. Part D17 was amended to reflect the zoning footprint and to improve development outcomes on the site known as the Stockton Rifle Range at Fern Bay.
The amendment came in effect on 26 May 2023.
The amendment gives effect to Council’s resolution of 27 July 2021. The amendment updated Part 1 Tree Management and Part D12 Richardson Road – Raymond Terrace as well as made minor corrections throughout the Plan.
The amendment came into effect on 17 March 2023.
The amendment gives effect to Council's resolution of 27 July 2021. The amendment inserted Part D17 to provide a site specific DCP for the area known as the Stockton Rifle Range at Fern Bay, satisfying the requirements of clause 6.3 under the Port Stephens Local Environment Plan 2013.
The amendment came in effect on 20 May 2022.
The amendment gives effect to Council’s resolution of 24 November 2020. The amendment makes changes to Part D5 Nelson Bay Centre and Part D6 Nelson Bay West to encourage active street frontages, design excellence and consideration of local character.
The amendment came into effect on 11 January 2021.
The amendment related to Part B1 Tree Management only and provided additional circumstances under which tree removal may be exempted from Council approval.
The first amendment came into effect on Thursday 3 September 2015.
The amendment related to Part D1 Heatherbrae and Part D9 Raymond Terrace Town Centre. The changes gave effect to the relevant outcomes of the Raymond Terrace and Heatherbrae Strategy, adopted by Council on Tuesday 24 November 2015.
The second amendment came into effect on Thursday 10 December 2015.
The amendment related to a series of minor changes and corrections throughout the DCP. It was adopted by Council on Tuesday 13 February 2018.
The amendment came into effect on 22 February 2018.
The amendment gave effect to Council's resolution of 13 February 2018. Part D9 Medowie was amended to reflect changes made to the zoning and lot sizes at the Bower Estate.
The amendment came into effect on 26 April 2018.
The amendment gave effect to Council's resolution of 12 June 2018. The amendment inserted Part D16 to provide a site specific DCP for the area known as Kingston, satisfying the requirements of clause 6.3 under the Port Stephens Local Environment Plan 2013.
The amendment came in effect on 21 June 2018.
The amendment gives effect to Council's resolution of 10 July 2018. It makes administrative changes including references to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the repeal of savings and transitional provisions.
The amendment came in effect on 23 August 2018.
The amendment gives effect to Council's resolution of 9 July 2019. It makes changes to the noise planning area to which Part B7 applies. The amendment also updates relevant working and definitions within the DCP.
The amendment came in effect on 25 July 2019.
The amendment gives effect to Council’s resolution of 27 August 2019. The amendment makes changes to the area specific Part D13, which applies to land on Rees James Road, Raymond Terrace.
The amendment came in effect on 5 September 2019.
The amendment gives effect to Council’s resolution on 22 October 2019. The amendment makes changes to Part B4 Drainage and Water Quality, particularly in relation to requirements for waters quality improvement devices.
The amendment came in effect on 12 December 2019.
The amendment gives effect to Council's resolution of 12 May 2020. The amendment removed Part A11 Development Notification. Development notification requirements are now detailed in the Community Engagement Strategy.
The amendment came into effect on 14 May 2020.
The amendment gives effect to Council’s resolution of 25 August 2020. The amendment makes changes to Part B1 Tree Management to align with the State Environmental Planning Policy (Vegetation in Non-Rural Areas) 2017.
The amendment came into effect on 15 September 2020.
The amendment gives effect to Council's resolution of 24 November 2020. Amendments were made throughout the DCP to improve the efficiency of the development assessment process. Additionally, the format of the DCP was updated to improve legibility.
The amendment came into effect on 10 December 2020.
The amendment gives effect to Council's resolution of 8 December 2020. The amendment makes changes to Part B5 Flooding and sets out prescriptive and performance based controls for new development on flood prone land.
The amendment came into effect on 10 December 2020.