Council meeting agenda - 4 June 2012 - Clarence City Council

CLARENCE CITY COUNCIL – PLANNING AUTHORITY MATTERS- 4 JUNE 2012 86
Strategies
� To maintain and enhance the landscape character of the
rural areas and encourage both the retention of existing
vegetation and revegetation.
� To protect farmland from fragmentation into non-productive
units including rural residential living or hobby farms”.
“� Protect agricultural land as defined in the State Policy on the
Protection of Agricultural Land 2009 and prevent
encroachment by residential uses, especially in the Coal
River, Richmond and Cambridge Areas.
� Identify strategic location criteria for assessing any rural
residential encroachment into rural areas”.
The proposal relates to land described by the broadscale Grose 1999 mapping
of the State as a combination of Classes 4, 5 and 6 land which is not described
as prime agricultural land by the relevant State Policy.
Also relevant is Section 2.2.3(b)(i) – Natural Heritage. In particular, the Key
Objectives and Strategies include the following.
Objectives
Strategies
“� To protect natural environments from the impacts of
development encroachment, including the spread of pest
animals and plants.
� To ensure that land use planning and development is
consistent with catchment management strategies.
� To protect biodiversity and important conservation values”.
“� Limit the removal of important native vegetation within the
City.
� Maintain urban growth boundaries to ensure that ad hoc
growth does not prejudice important natural values”.
It is considered that the proposal would have minimal impact upon the
landscape character of the rural area. Reference to these principles is also
contained in the discussion below.