The draft report was released late last year, with councillors to consider its findings until mid-2026. Photo: Region.
The findings of a draft report that examined land use in the Snowies will be assessed in several stages.
In late 2025, a draft version of the Snowy Monaro Residential, Commercial and Industrial Lands Strategy 2025-2045 was put out for public consultation.
The document aims to help prepare Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) for future housing and employment growth across the region over the next 20 years.
Parts of the draft report examined the region’s housing stock, including its availability and diversity, as well as the land being used for industrial and commercial purposes.
At a recent council meeting, SMRC voted to debate its findings in stages.
Councillor Tricia Hopkins urged her fellow councillors to accept that approach, saying it would better manage the document’s complexity.
“This is a really big document [with] a lot of really important decisions to be made. … I believe the staged approach is the way to go forward.”
During the consultation, the council sought information about people’s living situation (including the size of their household), the kind of housing they wanted to see in the region and how easy it was to find a new home.
It’s all part of the council’s planning for the kind of housing they would need over the coming two decades.
The draft report also suggested changes to planning controls in an attempt to increase housing diversity.
According to an engagement report, those who commented said there should be a higher focus placed on the region’s ageing population.
This should include planning for aged care facilities and appropriate housing (including home care options), in addition to new housing developments.
It also called for the creation of funded programs (including a timeline and targets) to improve housing affordability and reduce rental stress across the Snowy Monaro.
There was also a series of suggestions for specific towns and villages.
Berridale residents urged the council to protect its rural atmosphere, which was described as being walkable with low-density housing.
Another suggestion was the expansion of its commercial precinct to the west and south.
Several submissions for Kalkite concerned calls for the council to protect the visual amenity of the Lake Jindabyne area, over concerns it was being “disregarded” and risking local tourism.
There were also concerns raised for the lakeside village’s bushfire and wastewater prospects.
Michelago’s submissions suggested traffic calming measures along Ryrie Street and footpath connections down to Michelago Creek to connect planned dwellings.
The staged approach is expected to take until mid-2026 to complete. Photo: NSW Planning Portal.
The engagement report also notes calls for the council to identify more industrial land at Berridale.
Bombala could see expanded industrial land zoning at Rosemeath Road or near the race course on Delegate Road.
It also states that there is “little to no availability” for Jindabyne businesses looking to expand, with the strategy finding constraints mean 8.55 hectares is available.
Council’s meeting papers state findings will be considered over multiple meetings, with the process expected to take until mid-2026.
“Staged decision-making serves to break down the issues raised into smaller decision and direction stages.”
Councillor Andrew Thaler raised the concern that there had been limited consultation into possible land use changes.
He said there was limited engagement through social media, resulting in a small click-through rate from social media posts.
“You want to move ahead with this, but you’ve got areas and villages that didn’t really contribute.
“I’d say that’s notwithstanding the alleged engagement through social media.
“As someone that uses social media quite a bit, and receives a lot of criticism from that use, I think you can work out it’s not working.”
He also pointed to the small number of written submissions that were made to the council.
“Something’s not working. … This is not successful, meaningful engagement.”
