Endorsement is sought from Council to release the draft Local Biodiversity Strategy for public comment and referral to relevant Governments agencies and interested community groups for a period of 6 weeks.
Following the close of the advertising period the submissions will be considered and where necessary modifications will be recommended to the Local Biodiversity Strategy. A summary of submissions, staff responses to the submissions and a final Local Biodiversity Strategy will then be presented to Council for consideration and final adoption.
It must be stressed, that the Local Biodiversity Strategy is a broad strategy or framework for considering biodiversity in all City decision making and suggests ways of conserving important local natural areas and biodiversity into the future. At this point in time the Local Biodiversity Strategy is not designed as an information resource to provide detailed information on local biodiversity for every private property within the City of Swan.
ATTACHMENTS Nil
APPENDICES
Nil
(The Local Biodiversity Strategy has been provided to Councillors under a separate cover.
Copies of this document can be obtained at www.cityofswan.com under
Environment/Biodiversity or by contacting the City of Swan.)
Item 2.5 (Cont’d 6)
STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS
The draft Local Biodiversity Strategy is aligned to KRA 4 Valuing the Natural Environment within the City’s Corporate Plan and the Natural Environment Strategy within the Community Plan Foundations for the Future - Strategies for Quality of Life in the City of Swan.
Issues associated with the resourcing of local government to undertake local biodiversity initiatives relate to strategies within KRA 1 of the Strategic Plan (Leading the City), in particular: “Manage the City’s resources in a sustainable and responsible manner to achieve community outcomes”.
STATUTORY ENVIRONMENT
Whilst adoption of the LBS itself has no statutory implications, it will lead to the eventual development of local planning policies under the City’s Town Planning Scheme.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Adoption of the LBS by Council would lead to an eventual need to develop financial incentives for private landowners of a rate rebate of 35% and/or a dollar for dollar monetary incentive (a subsidy of up to $1500). Both options will have to be individually progressed through the standard corporate process and further considered upon endorsement of the Local Biodiversity Strategy by Council.
RECOMMENDATION That the Council resolve to:
(1) Adopt the draft Local Biodiversity Strategy for the purposes of seeking public comment and referral to relevant Government agencies and interested community groups for a period of 6 weeks.
(2) Consider submissions received on the Local Biodiversity Strategy and consider final
adoption of the Local Biodiversity Strategy following the consultation period.
MOTION that the staff recommendation be adopted subject to part (1) being amended to read “12 weeks” instead of “6 weeks” as some government agencies require more time to provide a response.
(Cr Marino - Cr Zannino)
Item 2.5 (Cont’d 7)
RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY TO:
(1) Adopt the draft Local Biodiversity Strategy for the purposes of seeking public comment and referral to relevant Government agencies and interested community groups for a period of 12 weeks.
(2) Consider submissions received on the Local Biodiversity Strategy and consider final adoption of the Local Biodiversity Strategy following the consultation period.
(3) Record that the reason for changing the staff recommendation is that some government agencies require more time to provide a response.
3. STATUTORY PLANNING
3.1 ALBION TOWN (HENLEY BROOK) DRAFT STRUCTURE PLAN, TOWN PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENT, WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
(MTPS9/364) (SWAN VALLEY WARD) (CP)
KEY ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATION
• Town Planning Scheme Amendment 364 for the “Albion Town” development at Henley Brook was formally initiated by Council in May 1999 under direction from the (then) Minister for Planning.
• The proposal has been determined by the Environmental Protection Authority as requiring assessment under the Environmental Protection Act. Lengthy discussions have occurred between the applicant’s consultants and the Department of Environment to prepare the environmental review documents for formal public advertising and assessment.
• A draft Structure Plan, TPS Amendment and Water Management Plan have also been prepared and it is intended to advertise these documents concurrently with the Environmental Review for the purposes of seeking formal public comment.
• The proposed development is a significant development for the City, with wide-ranging implications for urban growth, infrastructure provision and maintenance, community and economic development, and environmental management.
• In conjunction with the development of the City’s Urban Growth Strategy, it is intended to review all aspects of the Structure Plan during the course of the public comment period to ensure that any final proposal incorporates Council requirements for delivery of a sustainable and manageable urban development that is able to be properly integrated with future development within the corridor and meets the City’s community planning and asset management objectives.
• Issues to be addressed include drainage and nutrient management, planning and provision of infrastructure (hard and soft), traffic management, housing density and choice, design and maintenance of open space and drainage areas, water management and others.
• Council has a statutory obligation to proceed with the public advertising of the proposal, which is an opportunity to proceed to the next step of assessment, to identify any further investigations/modifications to the plan, and to engage relevant government agencies and the community in a consultative process.
It is recommended that Council endorse the draft Structure Plan, Town Planning Scheme Amendment, Water Management Plan and Environmental Review for the purposes of formal referral to the Environmental Protection Authority and public advertising, with a number of conditions relevant to the review and refinement of the proposal prior to consideration for final approval.