Draft MidCoast Rural Strategy

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There is no set method or current land use planning framework for considering and addressing rural challenges or realising opportunities.

This last item is reflected in the lack of specific rural land use planning strategy and policy at the national, State and regional levels. Making the establishment of a rural planning framework both a challenge and a priority for the MidCoast, which is both a rural and regional local government area. New strategies and plans to guide rural land use planning in the MidCoast are as a result, heavily influenced by local strategic work, where Council and the community have a shared and vested interest to build upon a common vision for our region. The following documents have therefore been identified as critical to the formulation of the Rural Strategy and the key goals and actions for implementation as they relate to the Rural Strategy are identified. • • •

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MidCoast Community Strategic Plan 2030: Shared Vision, Shared Responsibility MidCoast Tourism Destination Management Plan MidCoast Council Local Strategic Planning Statement

MidCoast Community Strategic Plan 2030

The MidCoast Community Strategic Plan 2030: Shared Vision Shared Responsibility was the first Plan prepared for the new 10,000 square kilometre MidCoast local government area after it was created in May 2016. Within this document a shared vision for the MidCoast was put forward: We strive to be recognised as a place of unique environmental and cultural significance. Our strong community connection, coupled with our innovative development and growing economy, builds the quality of life we value. 23 The community developed key values and actions to reflect this vision and identified who and how these would be realised. Each of the values in the Plan had actions relevant to rural land use planning: Table 6. MidCoast 2030 Goals and Actions relevant to the Rural Strategy 24 WE VALUE... our unique, diverse and culturally rich communities Our diverse communities offer active and social opportunities, are safe and are places where we work together with a creative focus acknowledging our rich history and culture.

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Where do we want to be?

How will we get there?

Who can help?

We are a diverse community that works together to care for all our members

Acknowledge, celebrate and empower our local Aboriginal communities. Support a diverse housing mix that provides choice and meets the needs of our community.

Draft MidCoast Rural Strategy

Articles inside

Table 10. Recommended E3 Environmental Management Zone Criteria

Table 9. Recommended E2 Environmental Conservation Zone Criteria

Figure 18. NSW Planning Legislation Framework

Figure 17. Current Planning Controls, from Local Strategic Planning Statement

Figure 16. Coastal Zone of the MidCoast, Coastal Management SEPP 2018

Figure 15. Priority Drinking Water Catchments and Aquifer Catchments in the MidCoast

Figure 14. Broad Catchment Areas of the MidCoast from the Rural Waterways paper

Figure 13. Hunter Regional Plan 'Proposed Biodiversity Corridors'

Figure 12. The MidCoast LGA - Location, Infrastructure and Natural Assets

Figure 11. Location of MidCoast centres, from Local Strategic Planning Statement

Figure 10. Experiences available across the 'Green Grid' of the MidCoast

Figure 9. Destination Barrington Coast, statistics from December 2020

Figure 8. Our Growing and Changing Population, from MidCoast Housing Strategy

Figure 7: Typical mine or quarry project life cycle

Figure 6: Location of underground resources in the MidCoast

Table 8. MidCoast Tourism Destination Management Plan SWOT of Rural Tourism

Figure 5. MidCoast contribution to NSW economy by agricultural industry (ABS 2011

Table 7. MidCoast LSPS Planning Priorities relevant to the Rural Strategy

Table 6. MidCoast 2030 Goals and Actions relevant to the Rural Strategy

Table 5. NSW Government Priority Actions relevant to MidCoast Rural Strategy

Figure 4. Location Quotients and Employment Growth for MidCoast Industries

Figure 3. Strategic Actions for Priority Growth Industries in the Hunter

Figure 2. Hunter Regional Development Investment Prospectus, Local Government Areas

Table 4. Data Gaps identified in Background Reports to Rural Strategy

Table 1. Non-Urban Zones from the Standard Instrument Principal Local Environmental Plan available to use across the rural landscape of the MidCoast Local Government Area

Table 2. Strategic Centres and Centres of Local Significance, Hunter Regional Plan 2036

Table 3. Major legislation, policy and strategies influencing the Rural Strategy

Figure 1. Rural, Environmental and Waterway zoned land considered in the Rural Strategy

1 Strategic Goals and Local Planning...................................................................................64

1 Data Gaps – Challenges and Opportunities......................................................................19