Planning strategies

These strategies guide the growth of the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area, both at the local and state levels of government, and act as supports to the planning controls and guidelines.

 

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Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan

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The Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan was adopted by the Council of the City of Coffs Harbour on 8 August 2024. 

The Coffs Harbour region has unique and diverse Aboriginal cultural heritage that is essential to its character and identity. The Management Plan acknowledges the value and importance of the Gumbaynggirr people’s stories and culture by seeking to improve the City's management practices for Aboriginal cultural heritage as part of its planning, assessment, and project delivery processes.

The City of Coffs Harbour has a statutory obligation to conserve Aboriginal objects and Aboriginal places of heritage significance by considering the effect of proposed development on the significance of this heritage and to consult with local Aboriginal communities.

The Management Plan details the requirements for both the City and proponents of development on the consideration of Aboriginal cultural heritage as part of the following planning processes to ensure that these obligations are met (refer to FAQs for further information on the planning processes):

The Management Plan is supported by an online Aboriginal cultural heritage map which identifies known and predictive Aboriginal cultural heritage (refer to FAQs for further information on the cultural mapping).

Development Application Requirements(PDF, 813KB)

Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan(PDF, 27MB) 

Understanding the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan(PDF, 16MB)

What is the City’s role in relation to Aboriginal cultural heritage?

The City has an important role as a land manager and an approval body for certain types of development in identifying, assessing, and managing heritage objects and places in the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area.

Rules for the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage have been in place since the introduction on of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974. This Act makes it a prosecutable offence should harm be caused to Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Few people are aware of the legal requirements associated with the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage and for those that may be aware, it can be difficult to understand if and where there is a potential risk of harm, and the actions required. It is an offence to harm Aboriginal objects knowingly and unknowingly.

The City has developed a Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Heritage Management Plan (Management Plan) to provide guidance for property owners and developers as part of the planning approval processes managed by the City, with the aim of understanding, respecting, and protecting our indigenous history.

 

What is the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Map?

The Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Map has been prepared in consultation with the local Aboriginal community. The data and information gathered during the cultural mapping process was refined into two mapping layers:

1) Known Aboriginal cultural heritage; and

2) Predictive Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The map supports the Management Plan and guides the City in its consideration of Aboriginal cultural heritage as part of its planning processes.

My land is mapped as ‘known’ - what do I need to do?

If you are proposing to undertake development on your land which requires planning approval through the development application process and your land is mapped as ‘known’ on the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Map you will need to follow the steps outlined in Section 3.3.1 of the Management Plan.

 

My land is mapped as ‘predictive’ - what do I need to do?

f you are proposing to undertake development on your land which requires planning approval through the development application process and your land is mapped as ‘predictive’ on the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Map you will need to follow the steps outlined in Section 3.3.6 of the Management Plan.

 

My land is ‘unmapped’ - what do I need to do?

If you are proposing to undertake development on your land which requires planning approval through the development application process and your land is unmapped on the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Map you will need to follow the steps outlined in Section 3.3.7 of the Management Plan

 

My land is mapped as ‘Assessed’ on the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Map what do I need to do?

Land identified as ‘assessed’ on the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Map has been assessed in accordance with the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan as part of a development application.

Accordingly, no further assessment of Aboriginal cultural heritage is required for future development applications for residential development on the land subject to this assessment.

Future development applications for residential development on the land subject to this assessment should include advice from the City issued as part of the Notice of Determination for the associated Subdivision Certificate in relation to this matter.

 

What is an Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment?

Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment includes the process to investigate the potential for harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage values and to clearly identify those impacts (both avoidable and unavoidable) in accordance with the requirements of the NSW Government (Department of Planning and Environment - Environment and Heritage Group).

The process includes investigation and assessment to determine the likelihood of Aboriginal cultural heritage values; the location and extent of any cultural heritage objects or place; potential for harm to those values; whether potential harm can be avoided; and where impacts cannot be avoided, to provide context and justification for why the harm is acceptable with appropriate mitigation and management. It includes the assessment of scientific and cultural values and is usually prepared by an archaeologist and heritage consultant with Aboriginal stakeholders.

 

Who can undertake an Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment?

Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment requires specialist advice. The NSW Government’s Code of Practice for Archaeological Investigation of Aboriginal Objects in NSW (2010) stipulates the minimum qualifications required. An Archaeologist (with the minimum stated qualifications) skilled in Aboriginal cultural heritage is required. The NSW Government’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Consultation Requirements for Proponents (2010) sets out the consultation requirements.

The process of undertaking an Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment is informed by Heritage NSW requirements, including:

  • Guide to Investigating, Assessing and Reporting on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage in NSW (2011)
  • Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Consultation Requirements for Proponents (2010)
  • Code of Practice for Archaeological Investigation of Aboriginal Objects in NSW (2010)
  • Applying for an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit: Guide for Applicants (2011)
  • Guide to Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit Processes and Decision-making (2011).

 

What is the role of the Coffs Harbour & District Local Aboriginal Land Council?

It is widely recognised at all levels of government that the Aboriginal people are the custodians of their cultural knowledge. This is reflected in all levels of government policy and is a key part of the Management Plan. 

The Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council (Land Council) is entrusted under the provisions of the NSW Land Rights Act, 1983 with taking action to protect the cultural and heritage of Aboriginal people; promoting the awareness of Aboriginal culture and heritage in the Coffs region; and voicing the position of local Aboriginal people.

The City acknowledges and respects the connection of local Aboriginal communities to their ancestral country and the right of Aboriginal people’s interests to inform its planning processes.

The City has worked closely with the Land Council and the local Aboriginal community through the development of the Management Plan to identify Aboriginal cultural heritage in a manner that is acceptable to the Aboriginal people. This has included the development of planning processes that are inclusive and engaging of the Aboriginal community and knowledge whilst integrating with the NSW planning and development assessment framework.

The Management Plan includes planning processes that require consultation with the local Aboriginal community with the Land Council being the first point of contact and the conduit between cultural knowledge holders and the City.

 

 

 

 

How do I consult with the Land Council?

The Land Council Office is located at Wongala Estate, Arthur Street, Coffs Harbour.

Contact details:

PO Box 6150, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450.

Phone: 02 6652 8740.

Email: admin@coffsharbourlalc.com.au

Website: coffsharbourlalc.com.au

 

Will an Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment delay my development approval?

The Management Plan should involve consultation with the Land Council at the design stage of proposals (i.e. before submiting a development application) to prevent delays to the application assessment process.

 

I have been farming for years. What does this mean for me?

If you are proposing to undertake development on your land which requires planning approval through the development application process, then the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan applies (refer to Section 3.3 of the Plan).

Some types of low impact development do not require approval under the NSW planning rules or are eligible for a streamlined approval process (refer to FAQ on Exempt and Complying Development). The Aboriginal cultural heritage due diligence requirements under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 do not apply to low impact farming activities such as:

  • grazing of animals and/or cropping;
  • water storage works (farm dams or water tanks);
  • the construction of fences;
  • the construction of irrigation infrastructure, ground water bores and flood mitigation works;
  • erosion works;
  • maintenance of existing infrastructure such as that referenced above; and
  • certain types of exempt development or complying development (refer to FAQ on Exempt and Complying Development).

For all other farming activities that do not require planning approval, it is recommended that landowners exercise due diligence to consider the potential risk of harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage. If a person discovers an Aboriginal object while undertaking any of the activities, the person cannot harm the object and must obtain an Aboriginal heritage impact permit.

 

 

 

 

I live in an urban area. What does this mean for me?

The Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management (associated map) generally avoids highly developed land in urban areas, except where the nature of the Aboriginal cultural heritage is significant. If your land is in a built-up urban area and is mapped as known or predictive on the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Map, this is because there is either Aboriginal cultural heritage in the immediate vicinity and/ or site or is within landscapes that are highly likely to contain Aboriginal cultural heritage.

A common misconception is that where there has been disturbance of the land, such as the construction of dwellings, there is no further risk of harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage. This is not necessarily the case. There are many examples within the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area where there has been historic ground disturbance and Aboriginal cultural heritage values have been identified (i.e. highly modified landscapes such as Moonee Beach).

 

Is my proposal exempt or complying development?

The NSW State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008, known as the ‘Code SEPP’, identifies certain types of low impact development that do not need planning approval (Exempt Development) or low impact development that is suitable for a streamlined assessment process (Complying Development).

Certain types of development are excluded from being exempt and complying under the Code SEPP if the proposal is on land within an ‘environmentally sensitive area’. An environmentally sensitive area includes land as being of high Aboriginal cultural significance. The draft Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan considers land mapped as known Aboriginal cultural heritage the same as high Aboriginal cultural significance. If your land is identified as known Aboriginal cultural heritage, the Code SEPP may not apply.

 

What is the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979?

The NSW planning framework guides planning and development decision making in NSW. The Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) is the overarching law which controls planning and development in NSW. There are three main parts of the EP&A Act that are relevant to the development of land referenced in the Management Plan, and these include:

  • Part 3 of the EP&A Act, which addresses strategic land-use planning maters that set out long-term plans for communities (eg. rezoning land);
  • Part 4 of the EP&A Act, which addresses development application assessment and approval (eg. development and/or subdivision of land); and
  • Part 5 of the EP&A Act, which addresses the environmental assessment of works undertaken on public owned or managed land as well as state significant development (eg. activities such as flood mitigation works / roadworks / footpaths etc.).

 

 

 

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Affordable Housing Strategy

The City of Coffs Harbour (City) recognises that a shortage of affordable housing in the Coffs Harbour local government area is a significant issue that is likely to have adverse, long term social and economic effects and therefore must be addressed. We recognise that access to affordable, secure and appropriate housing is a basic human right.

The City’s approach to addressing the shortage of affordable housing is outlined in its adopted Affordable Housing Policy, which is available to view here. In June 2024 Council adopted the City of Coffs Harbour Affordable Housing Strategy, which outlines actions that the City will take to assist the delivery of additional social and affordable housing in the local government area.

To assist the City to monitor and understand the issue of housing affordability the City has subscribed to a housing monitor which provides data on housing and housing affordability within the Coffs Harbour local government area. The housing monitor can be accessed here.

Coffs Harbour Regional City Action Plan (NSW Government)

The NSW Government has developed the Coffs Harbour Regional City Action Plan to provide a framework to manage and shape the city’s future growth so it conforms with the requirements of the North Coast Regional Plan 2036. 

The plan establishes a vision, objectives and actions to guide the growth of Coffs Harbour city. It sets six key collaboration areas to help deliver the 15-year strategic vision. 

 It was finalised in March 2021.

Heritage Strategy for Coffs Harbour for 2017-2020

The heritage strategy summarises the way the City of Coffs Harbour will achieve implementation of its heritage program, and includes:

  • endorsement of the continuation of the Heritage Advisory Committee
  • actions to identify potential heritage items
  • actions to produce heritage brochures
  • actions to administer local heritage fund
  • actions to produce themed heritage trails, and
  • actions to promote cultural heritage awareness.

City of Coffs Harbour endorsed the Heritage Strategy for Coffs Harbour for 2021-2024 on 22 July 2021.

Local Growth Management Strategy

The aim of the Coffs Harbour Local Growth Management Strategy (LGMS) is to provide a coordinated, strategic and planned approach to cater for growth in our local government area to 2040. 

The LGMS consists of nine chapters, which have been adopted by both City of Coffs Harbour and NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

Local Strategic Planning Statement

The Local Strategic Planning Statement ('the Statement') provides a 20-year land use planning vision for the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area (LGA). It identifies 16 Planning Priorities to be delivered in four themes to 2040.

City of Coffs Harbour adopted the Statement on 25 June 2020 for the whole of the Coffs Harbour LGA. The Statement was prepared in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and Regulations.

Now it is adopted, this Statement will inform several of our processes and procedures, including:

  • the roll out of strategic and city-shaping projects within operational and delivery plans
  • infrastructure priorities
  • advocacy with other levels of government for new infrastructure and services to support growth
  • preparation of place plans, and
  • amendments to local planning controls (Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan).

The Local Strategic Planning Statement is underpinned by the four key themes of the MyCoffs Community Strategic Plan, being:

  • Community Wellbeing
  • Community Prosperity
  • A Place for Community, and
  • Sustainable Community Leadership.

Movement and Place (Transport) Strategy

The Coffs Harbour Movement and Place Strategy(PDF, 9MB)  provides an action plan for the next 20 years to improve walking and cycling networks, bus services, and the City's roads and streets to contribute to a better place to live, work and play.

The development of the strategy has been led by the City in collaboration with Transport for NSW and other NSW Government agencies.

The strategy was adopted by Council on 28 September 2023. The Strategy received NSW Government ministerial approval for co-branding in January 2024.

The strategy sets out a number of goals called the 10 Big Moves:

  1. Improving our walking and cycling networks
  2. Better streets
  3. Improving our public transport services
  4. Investing in our blue and green grid (more street trees and linking and protecting our network of open spaces and waterways with paths)
  5. Beyond the bypass
  6. Connecting the city’s key precincts and growth areas
  7. Careful parking management
  8. Connecting our communities
  9. Shovel-ready projects to create great places
  10. Harnessing technology

 

In line with the strategy, the City has been supporting Transport for NSW and bus operators to provide simplified, more direct, and more frequent bus services. See how Transport for NSW is improving our bus network - Better bus services for Coffs

Starting with Country

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What is Movement and Place?

In the past we’ve considered roads as just a way to get vehicles from A to B. Movement and Place recognises that streets are not just about moving people and goods – they are also places for people to live, work and spend time. Movement and Place is about getting the right mix of transport in the right locations to create places we can all enjoy.

Movement and Place considers the whole street including footpaths, from property line to property line. It takes into account the needs of all users of this space, including pedestrians, cyclists, deliveries, private vehicles and public transport, as well as people spending time in those places, whether moving around the place or enjoying street life including outdoor dining, waiting for a bus or watching the world go by.

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North Coast Regional Plan 2041 (NSW Government)

The North Coast Regional Plan 2041 is a 20-year is the NSW Government’s blueprint for the future of the North Coast.

The NSW Government’s vision for the North Coast is to create the best region in Australia to live, work and play thanks to its spectacular environment and vibrant communities.

To achieve this vision the Government has set four goals for the region:

  • The most stunning environment in NSW
  • A thriving, interconnected economy
  • Vibrant and engaged communities
  • Great housing choice and lifestyle options.

Place Score

Place Score is a 'place experience' measurement tool that lets communities across Australia share what they most care about. It gives communities a voice to shape the places they live, recreate and work.

Place Score consists of two tools - "Care Factor' captures what the community values; and 'PX' is a universal standard for measuring 'place experience'. Just as 'UX' measures the user experience of online environments, PX measures the lived experience of places across Australia.

The PX score (a number between 0 and 100) reveals how places and neighbourhoods are performing, what is contributing to place experience (and what is impacting users negatively) and allows change to be measured over time.

The Coffs Harbour 2019 Place Score Report involved community engagement between November 2018 and February 2019. A total of 2,075 responses were collected during the research. The Coffs Harbour local government area (LGA) achieved a PX or 65.

Key strengths listed for the overall LGA are elements of the natural environment (natural features, views, vegetation etc.); and locally owned and operated businesses.

Liveability improved priorities (those things identified that are important to the community but which are currently underperforming) are listed as:

  • quality of public space, access and safety of walking, cycling and/or public transport
  • walking/jogging/bike paths that connect housing to community amenities (like shops and parks)
  • the general condition of public open space (street trees, footpaths, parks), and 
  • protection of the natural environment.

Further analysis was also undertaken on localities (when sufficient responses were received to allow for this analysis).

Scores for other neighbourhoods included:

  • Arrawarra and Mullaway (65)
  • Boambee East (64)
  • Coffs Harbour city (64)
  • City Centre (62)
  • Jetty (69)
  • Park Beach (64)
  •  West Coffs (64) 
  • Coramba (68)
  • Corindi Beach (67)
  • Moonee Beach (72)
  • Nana Glen (61)
  • Sandy Beach (66)
  • Sawtell (77)
  • Toormina (58)
  • Woolgoolga (67)

The 2019 Place Score report provides valuable information to Council for diagnosing problems, identifying priorities and measuring change in key places and precincts across the LGA.

 

Public Realm Strategy

The public realm is not just reserves and sporting fields - it includes all public spaces such as streets, parks, public squares, bicycle and pedestrian links and waterways. The Public Realm Strategy provides guidance for the City of Coffs Harbour, developers and the community on the planning, design and management of the public realm. 

The vision of the Public Realm Strategy is to create a connected network of public open space that is clean, green, and safe. Its goal is that everyone in our community will have access to a least one type of public open space within a 4 to 5 minute walk from their home.

To achieve this the Strategy provides:

  • Guiding principles to inform projects and works that impact the public realm.
  • Standards for the different types of public realm within the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area, including; Local Parks, District Parks, Regional Parks, Coffs Coast Regional Park, Linear Parks, Natural Areas, Streets, Sports Facilities and Community Gardens.
  • Performance criteria to assist the City in determining levels of service and provision for each public realm type.
  • Public open space requirements for future urban release areas.
  • Methodology to guide the City in its classification of public land and development of plans of management

The Strategy also contains 5 Big Moves that will be undertaken by the City of Coffs Harbour: 

  1. Establish a Green Grid Framework - to ensure that our public open space is protected and improved in perpetuity.
  2. Establish a Public Realm Tree Delivery Program - to protect trees within our urban environments and reverse the decline in the urban tree canopy.
  3. Support the Preparation of an Active Transport Plan - to ensure that our public realm is connected & to facilitate active lifestyles.
  4. Support the City's Placemaking Framework - by informing the development of place plans for our community.
  5. Promote Responsible Pet Ownership in the Public Realm - by updating the City's Companion Animal Management Plan.

The Coffs Harbour Public Realm Strategy was adopted by Council on 10 August 2023. The Strategy can be accessed using the link below.

Public Realm Urban Design Guidelines

The Public Realm Strategy is supported by a set of guidelines that are intended to ensure a consistent and legible approach to the design of public spaces, including streets and parks - the Public Realm Urban Design Guidelines. The Urban Design Guidelines provide guidance to the City, developers or others who are designing and specifying works and infrastructure in the public realm.

The Public Realm Urban Design Guidelines can be accessed using the link below.

 

 

 

 

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