Hilltops Council has voted to re-establish the Councillor Steering Group to provide direction and feedback throughout the Council-wide Hilltops Development Control Plan process as well as the re-establishment of a Practitioner Reference Group to assist in the Development Control Plans development.
At its most recent Ordinary Meeting held in November, Councillors voted unanimously to approve the recommendation from the Director of Planning, Jamie Dyhrberg that Council appoint Councillors to the Hilltops Development Control Plan Steering Group ad approve the Terms of Reference and to endorse the re-establishment of a Practitioner Reference Group for the Hilltops Development Control Plan project.
According to the report submitted in the Council papers the role of the Hilltops Development Control Plan (DCP) is to provide guidance to applicants and planning authorities on how development proposals should give effect to aims of environmental planning instruments (such as the LEP); facilitate permissible development and achieve zoning objectives for the land.
"The DCP provides additional details relating to development standards and character," Mr Dyhrberg wrote in the report.
"We currently have two operative DCPs - the Young Development Control Plan and the Boorowa Development Control Plan.
"The area covering the former Harden Shire does not have a Development Control Plan in force.
"Now that the Hilltops Local Environmental Plan is in effect, it is timely to begin preparing a corresponding comprehensive DCP for the Hilltops LGA."
The report explains that the Hilltops DCP is a guide and therefore the Council has a lot of discretion about the plan-making process and in the content within the plan.
"It is therefore vitally important that Councillors are at the centre of the process," the report read.
At the March 2023 Ordinary Council meeting, Council resolved to endore the preparation of a single comprehensive, Council-wide Hilltops Development Control Plan, approve the terms of reference for the HDC Plan Steering Group and appoint Councillors to the HDCP Steering Group. Councillors who expressed interest on being a part of the committee were Cr Armstrong, Cr Foreman, Cr Ingram, Cr Dodd, Cr FitzGerald and Cr Roles.
That motion in March 2023 was also moved unanimously.
"Preparation of the Council-wide Hilltops Development Control Plan has commenced in tandem with the establishment of the Hilltops Development Control Plan Councillor Steering Group," the report read.
"To date, the Hilltops Development Control Plan Councillor Steering Group has met monthly over four meetings.
"The Steering Group have discussed intent, objectives and approaches to a DCP."
Information in the report said at the August 3, 2023 meeting the Councillor Steering Group unanimously endorsed a Project Plan to be considered by Council at the August 2023 Ordinary Council Meeting, this document was supported unanimously.
"The Project Plan includes project milestones and timeframes as well as setting a path for consultation with Councillors, a Practitioner Reference Group and the community and stakeholders as the DCP is prepared," the report read.
"The project milestones follow the legislated pathway under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulations 2022 for a Development Control Plan."