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

Locally, Council have also engaged in an extensive and comprehensive strategic work program, endorsed by the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment, to inform development of the MidCoast LEP and DCP.

In 2018 Council commenced a comprehensive review of land use zones and development standards applying to land within our towns and villages. Housing, Employment (Business and Industry), Recreation and Infrastructure (Special Purpose) zones were considered and an Urban Land Monitor prepared for the whole of the MidCoast local government area.

The findings and recommendations of the reviews were presented to the MidCoast community as part of the Urban Zoning In on our Future program between February –April 2020. Council’s strategic program supplements information in the Hunter Regional Plan, which identified Strategic Centres and Centres of Local Significance identified in Table 2, providing additional information on each of these locations and connectivity between these settlements.

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

STRATEGIC CENTRES

Expected to accommodate the highest-order of housing, services and employment associated with regional-level growth. Directions for planning in these areas may be heavily influenced by State and Regional policy, including the Hunter Regional Plan. Also expected to experience growth and change in housing, services and employment needs, but to a lesser degree than regionally relevant centres. Directions for planning in these areas is more heavily influenced by Council policy.

Taree and Forster-Tuncurry Bulahdelah, Diamond Beach, Gloucester, Hallidays Point, Harrington, Nabiac, Old Bar, Stroud, Tea Gardens–Hawks Nest and Wingham

Critically, Council’s program identified other settlement types within the MidCoast that contribute to the lifestyle and development options available to our existing and future residents including our villages and rural residential areas.

Villages are considered in greater detail within this strategy. Based on the land use and development standards established with adoption of the Housing Strategy (2020), villages were reviewed, to determine the capacity of these smaller settlements to provide services and facilities to local residents and increase the sustainability of rural industry and lifestyles across the MidCoast.

In comparison, the analysis and identification of ‘additional’ land suitable for rezoning to the R5 Large Lot Residential zone is outside of the scope of this Strategy. However, as a result of the public submissions received during the Urban Zoning In engagement program, additional investigation was undertaken to examine the diverse range of “rural living” zones across the MidCoast.

In this regard, land in the R5 Large Lot Residential zone was compared to land in the RU5 Village, E4 Environmental Living and RU4 Primary Production Small Lot zones to determine how the use and occupation of these areas may be addressed in the future MidCoast Council planning framework.

CENTRES OF LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE

In some instances, these investigations have resulted in recommendations to rezone land to better reflect the existing patterns of land use and occupation already occurring in these areas.

Finally, the Rural Strategy does not aim to identify land for rezoning to any other residential or employment purpose. This work has commenced separately, through a high-level review of the 'Potential urban investigation areas' identified within State strategies for housing or employment, including the Mid North Coast Regional Strategy 2006 that preceded the Hunter Regional Plan 2036.

4 Evidence-based planning

The primary purpose of preparing a Rural Strategy for the MidCoast LGA is to provide a common understanding of the relevance of current policy and strategic frameworks guiding the use and management of land and water resources outside towns and villages, consistent with the requirements of relevant legislation.

Therefore, the background reports underpinning this Strategy referred to below, considered publicly-available information contained in a range of State, Regional and Local strategies, plans and guidelines relevant to the MidCoast:

Housing and accommodation Agriculture and rural industries Land based conservation Marine activities Mining and Energy Tourism Transport Rural Waterways

Table 3 lists the main documents that currently provide this context, noting this list is not intended to be exhaustive, but represents the range of documents reviewed and considered in preparing the Background and Analysis Reports that have informed this draft Strategy.

Views from public agencies, selected stakeholders and the general community have also been provided through the following initiatives undertaken as part of the Rural Strategy Project.

• Telephone interviews conducted by the consultant team between May 2018 and

January 2019. In total, 60 interviews were conducted with several participants representing larger groups or peak organisations. Most participants referred to transport-related issues in some form. • A Public Workshop focusing on Tourism (‘Tourism Workshop’) in the MidCoast, facilitated by the consultant team on 14 June 2018 in Gloucester. This was attended by over 30 people, with a focused discussion on how the planning framework regulates tourism in rural areas, and issues currently considered most relevant to the MidCoast. • A public survey (‘Rural Strategy survey’), conducted by Council with inputs from the consultant team. This was made available online and in hard copy and was open to the public between September and November 2018. In total, 63 surveys were returned.

Any relevant public submissions received during the public exhibition of previously mentioned Council strategies and reviews, have also been considered and where appropriate incorporated into the Rural Strategy program and Report.