Local Strategic Planning Statement

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 is the principle planning and development assessment legislation in New South Wales. The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 was amended in November 2017 to require the preparation of a Local Strategic Planning Statement by all councils. The Local Strategic Planning Statements must be consistent with the relevant Region Plans and establish a 20 year vision for land use in the Hawkesbury Local Government Area.

Those new provisions came into effect in March 2018, with the adoption by the NSW State Government of the:

• Sydney Region Plan - A Metropolis of Three Cities
• Five District Plans, including the Western City District Plan which the Hawkesbury Local Government Area falls within.

The Hawkesbury Local Strategic Planning Statement 2040 sets out:

• A 20-year vision for land use in the Hawkesbury Local Government Area;
• The Special characteristics which contribute to its identity;
• The shared community values to be maintained and enhanced; and
• How growth and change will be managed into the future.

The making of the Hawkesbury Local Strategic Planning Statement 2040 and subsequent amendment of Council’s Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan will align and strengthen the line of sight in the strategic planning framework at the Regional, District and Local level as shown below:

Line of Sight between Key Strategic Documents

Council received advice from the Greater Sydney Commission on 8 February 2021 that the Commission supports Hawkesbury City Council’s draft Local Strategic Planning Statement (January 2021) as being consistent with the Greater Sydney Region Plan and Western City District Plan under Section 3.9(3A) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

Council adopted the Hawkesbury Local Strategic Planning Statement at its Ordinary Meeting on 23 February 2021.

The adopted Hawkesbury Local Strategic Planning Statement can be viewed here.