3 January 2021

Rural land use consultation period extended as community raises concerns

| Sharon Kelley
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Dalgety Bridge over the Snowy River.

The Dalgety Bridge over the Snowy River. Photo: File.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council has voted to extend the consultation period for its Draft Rural Land Use Strategy, with extensive discussion being held around the draft environmental management plan.

Council resolved to form a steering committee and extend the consultation period while the strategic consultation process continues as planned.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council Mayor Peter Beer thanked council staff for taking the initiative to bring the issue back before council to think about the next steps of consultation.

“The team has met with all of the people who have made submissions, and has conducted 30 meetings – including meeting with 29 community groups across all corners of the LGA [local government area] – and as a result made a clear recommendation based on this,” said Mayor Beer.

The current information available for public comment will not change, and councillors will complete the consultation process, which was extended from the original closing date, until 1 February, 2021.

When the consultation period closes, council’s strategy and executive teams will make a formal assessment of the submissions and report back with recommendations.

Council has acknowledged community concern expressed over the environmental land management inclusion.

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There were also concerns about the clarity of strategies around the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct. Council committed to consultation once the masterplan for the precinct has been released and the boundaries confirmed.

Council’s media release said the area is a small part of the Snowy Monaro region that the Rural Land Use Strategy applies to, and it needs to continue progressing through the consultation process.

After the consultation period closes, council will prepare the next stage of its community engagement plan and release the Special Activation Precinct Master Plan in March 2021.

Council has recorded more than 2000 interactions via its YourSay website and sent 2000 individual letters to community groups and landholders who may be impacted by proposed changes to their land zone or minimum lot size.

All submissions received will be included in the final report going back to councillors for review.

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