Questions Without Notice - Cessnock Council 17 February 2010
Date: 21-Feb-10
Author: Peter Firminger
Pasted directly from the minutes of the meeting
Councillor Olsen
Committee - Wollombi - Draft LEP
Councillor Olsen was told that a committee is being formed in Wollombi to discuss Council's LEP relating to the issues revolving around the R2 and E3 zoning in that area. Councillor Olsen then asked whether that was correct?
The Director City Planning advised that no, that is not correct, Council ran notices and it came out of a public meeting that the Director put together a working party to inform Council officers and we will be using them to assist Council with mapping in terms of constraints overlay that will be applied to an RU2 Zone. They are not reviewing the Draft LEP, they are not reviewing the zoning, they are only going through a GIS exercise in terms of mapping constraints.
Councillor Olsen then asked whether this group will be coming back with recommendations to Council on what's E3 and what shouldn't be?
The Director City Planning then advised that no they won't be making any recommendations, all they will be doing is assisting Council staff, which Council staff would be going through this exercise irrespective as part of our report back to Council on the Draft LEP. We could do that without involving the public, then this needs to be transparent which is what the residents down there were asking for and we gave the commitment to put this working party together, but whether they participate or not, Council staff will have to do this work anyway.
Councillor Olsen then asked how you get a fair and balanced group from Wollombi?
The Director City Planning advised that he didn't believe that Council has ever said they are asking for a fair and balanced group and that what Council is seeking a group that is representative of the community. Again as he has said to other individuals that have phoned that depends on who nominates, there has been comments made that Council is limiting it to six (6) there is no limit on this, if Council gets seven (7) or eight (8) nominations we will probably take all seven (7) or eight (8) if there is only three (3) nominations, we will take three (3) and if that leads a bias we will seek to address that with other residents.
Councillor Olsen then asked that if you have 100 nominations, who is going to cut that down to what you think is a good working party, who is going to be the ultimate decider?
The Director City Planning advised that he thinks it is unlikely Council will receive that many nominations, the nominations close on Friday and to date Council has received 3 and a 4th has come in this afternoon.
Councillor Olsen then stated that he has concerns that the committee is being formed for the wrong reasons and that the perception out there is that Council is trying to appease people with the E3 zoning in the Wollombi District.
The Director City Planning advised that all he can point out is that the forum at Wollombi where he made the comment, that forum is on disc, which has been distributed to all Councillors and if any members of the public come in and ask for a copy of that disc we have provided it to them so that they can watch the video of that. Council has met with various community groups and had the same discussion with those groups, Council has explained the purpose of the working party, there may be some individuals pushing that perception, but he certainly doesn't believe it is the perception of the broader community down there.
Councillor Olsen then stated that he understands what Council is trying to achieve but can he, as a Councillor, be informed when the committee is selected and feedback be given when meetings are held?
The Director City Planning advised that he could do that but as he said at the moment it is really only a GIS mapping exercise and as he has also explained to residents part of doing this is because they asked for
See Also
Cessnock LEP approved: Planning controls updated
Date: 18-Jan-12
Author: Cessnock Advertiser
Draft LEP and your DA
Date: 18-Aug-11
Author: Cessnock Council
Cessnock council staff 'disaffected'
Date: 04-Mar-11
Author: Joanne McCarthy (The Herald)
Oh $@#* Not Again! Cessnock LEP back on the agenda...
Date: 15-Feb-11
Author: Peter Firminger
Wollombi Update - 17 September 2010
Date: 17-Sep-10
Author: Peter Firminger
Cessnock Council Takes a step backwards - rejects environment and heritage protection
Date: 16-Sep-10
Author: Cessnock-Kurri Greens
Cessnock draft LEP back on exhibition
Date: 30-Jun-10
Author: The Advertiser
Draft LEP to be re-exhibited
Date: 24-Jun-10
Author: Cessnock City Council
Re-exhibition of Cessnock Draft LEP 2010
Date: 15-Jun-10
Author: Peter Firminger
Meeting March 10, 2010 - Wollombi Valley Working Party (draft LEP)
Date: 10-Mar-10
Author: Frederic Aubineau
Review Paper - Clause 10
Date: 08-Mar-10
Author: Paul Flemming
Addition of Clause 10 to the new LEP
Date: 08-Mar-10
Author: Paul and Priscilla Flemming
The Coming Week
Date: 07-Mar-10
Author: Peter Firminger
New England's environmental wars - introduction
Date: 02-Feb-10
Author: Jim Belshaw
In the restriction zone
Date: 30-Jan-10
Author: Phil Thompson (The Land)
Calling for nominations for a Wollombi Valley Working Party (Draft LEP)
Date: 20-Jan-10
Author: Bernie Mortimore (CCC)
Rural Valley Comparisons
Date: 19-Jan-10
Author: Paul Flemming
LEP Interviews on 2GB
Date: 18-Jan-10
Author: LEP Action Group
Claytons Environmental Protection Under E3
Date: 10-Dec-09
Author: Paul Flemming
Greens Information Sessions on Draft Cessnock LEP (Local Environment Plan)
Date: 04-Dec-09
Author: Tim Plater
Wollombi LEP Meeting Video
Date: 03-Dec-09
Author: Peter Firminger
Wollombi Valley update - 20 November 2009
Date: 20-Nov-09
Author: Peter Firminger
Cessnock seeks new strategy after Huntlee failure
Date: 05-Nov-09
Author: Matt Carr (The Herald)
Cessnock Draft LEP Feedback
Date: 07-Sep-09
Author: Peter Firminger
Council unveils its new plan for Cessnock City
Date: 08-Jul-09
Author: The Advertiser
LEP Action Group Letters
Date: 11-Jul-08
Author: Steve Annis-Brown
Why not RU2 Zoning for Wollombi Valley?
Date: 15-Apr-08
Author: Steve Annis-Brown, Paul and Priscilla Flemming
Local councils launch grass roots campaign against the state's pro-developer laws
Date: 13-Apr-08
Author: Peter Firminger
What should new zonings for our district provide for?
Date: 11-Apr-08
Author: Carl Hoipo
Cessnock Draft LEP 2008 - E3 (Environmental Management) Zoning and Heritage Conservation Area
Date: 08-Apr-08
Author: Ray Annis-Brown
Mayoral Minute No. 4/2008
Date: 24-Mar-08
Author: CCC
CCC - Questions Without Notice - Draft LEP etc.
Date: 16-Mar-08
Author: CCC Minutes
LEP 2008 - March - A Time for Action
Date: 14-Mar-08
Author: Stephen Annis-Brown
Cessnock LEP 2008 Update
Date: 24-Feb-08
Author: Stephen Annis-Brown
Amended E3 Zone and Heritage Conservation Area
Date: 24-Feb-08
Author: Ray Annis Brown
Dissapearing Building Entitlements, who would lose?
Date: 19-Jan-08
Author: Paul Flemming
Local Environmental Plan Action Group (LEPAGroup)
Date: 17-Jan-08
Author: Peter Firminger
