Draft MidCoast Rural Strategy

Provide a range of tourist accommodation and experiences The contribution of tourism development to the MidCoast economy is well-recognised at State, Regional and Local levels. Several plans and strategies recently endorsed by the State Government direct Council to better facilitate the growth of this industry. Tourism development outcomes are however, most effectively supported through initiatives undertaken outside the development assessment process e.g. education, business support, assistance with funding, as well as through improved infrastructure and asset management which ensures a good visitor experience. Figure 9. Destination Barrington Coast, statistics from December 2020 55

However, to achieve growth in this industry across the MidCoast, planning controls will also need to allow for new tourism-related development in villages and across the rural landscape in a manner that is compatible with other community needs and expectations including residential housing, environmental protection and agricultural productivity. Most State-level guidelines for planning controls to support tourism are over ten years old and recognised as unfit for purpose. This is reflected by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s recent exhibition of an Explanation of Intended Effect for Proposed Amendments to Agriculture, which focussed on growing agri-business and agri-tourism industries. The scale of the MidCoast can pose challenges to ensuring people access and use rural land, waterways and other natural areas safely. This can become an acute concern in locations that are popular for recreation, but do not yet have the infrastructure that residents or visitors expect. Concerns about telecommunications 'black spots', personal injury, potential trespass, or property damage normally fall outside development approvals processes, but can be addressed through community awareness, compliance and enforcement initiatives. Working with communities to address these concerns may also assist with identifying requirements for new or improved infrastructure and access arrangements. Based on tourism and visitation trends being experienced across the MidCoast therefore, Council’s priority is to establish a planning and assessment framework that more effectively supports sustainable growth in the tourism industry and considers the opportunities that may be created by future changes to State planning instruments.

Draft MidCoast Rural Strategy

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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