Tamworth Regional Council meeting April 26: Hopes zoning reforms will simplify planning process for businesses

The Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) is pushing forward with a suite of reforms, which will see all existing business and industrial zones replaced by five new employment zones and three supporting zones.

A report will go before TRC tonight, advising council of amendments to the Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2010 to make way for the reforms.

Deputy mayor Mark Rodda said he hopes the amendments will make it easier and cheaper for the every day business owner.

"I'm hopeful what will it mean to the every day business owner is that to undertake specific business in a specific area won't be as difficult for them," he said.

He said council is constantly pushing for changes to its LEP to rezone areas to accommodate new business enterprises, and he hopes the system will simplify the process.

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"I would hope that we wouldn't have to do that as much, that the process would be a lot less onerous and expedite business establishment and will be a bit cheaper," he said.

The DPE exhibited the employment zones framework from May 20 to June 30 2021.

At the time, TRC made a submission strongly opposing the reforms, claiming there had been minimal consultation undertaken and inadequate timeframes for its delivery of the framework.

Council also took aim at the new zones and their lack of alignment with strategic land use documents such as Blueprint 100.

Council has since put forward several amendments and in negotiation with the department, has come up with a list of potential changes that are more in line with its planning initiatives.

Cr Rodda said it was pleasing to see a state government planning department listening to council on such an important issue.

"I thought that older zonings were a bit more clear, but the main concern is that it could be confusing to people wishing to set up a business in specific areas," he said.

"It's probably good that the footprint of some of these employment zones would be potentially greater, but I wondered who came up with the names."

The DPE intends to complete its amendment of LEPs in all councils before December 2022.

Councillors will discuss the changes at tonight's ordinary meeting, with plans to undertake further consultation with affected property owners.

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