On 4 November a brief exhibition period ended for a statewide Local Environmental Plan Template that all councils will have to use. Many community groups and local government planners are very concerned that not enough time or thought is being given to this very important and far-reaching move. They fear that its full implications are unknown and that it will undermine current policies that protect the environment and the coastal zone while not achieving the simplicity or certainty that the government claims.

The Coastwatchers Association has asked the Minister for Planning to re-exhibit an amended LEP Template or Templates next year for further comment. “It may be better to have different LEP templates for different parts of the state templates that are more closely tailored to the environmental constraints and land uses of that region,” said Jenny Edwards, Coastwatchers secretary.

“If introduced in anything like its current form the LEP Template will have the effect of bringing all planning in local government areas down to the lowest level. For example, the Eurobodalla Shire will not be able to effectively implement the excellent work that has been done in Coastal Capacity Planning in an LEP based on the template,” Ms Edwards said. “There are insufficient zones to protect land with environmental constraints and Councils cannot delete inappropriate land uses.”

Coastwatchers President, Mark Fleming, said his meetings with community groups all along the South Coast had shown him that people have a strong desire to retain the character of their towns and villages. “This will not be met by the LEP Template,” he said, “nor does the Template include any mention of sustainability.”

“People were most adamant that they wanted significant consultation on planning matters and also required certainty in future decision making by Local Government,” Mr Fleming said. “The template does not provide either, and in fact goes some way to weaken current planning instruments and create more uncertainty.”

The Eurobodalla Urban and Rural Settlement Strategies are to go on exhibition from 23 November with many public meetings planned to present the strategies.

“We have a horrible feeling that this genuine consultation could be a waste of time if the good work done on the Settlement Strategies is undermined by a standardised LEP Template for the whole state,” Mr Fleming declared.