Why are changes proposed in our rural area?
Our rural land is an important part of The Hills and contributes to the identity of our Shire. We are proposing some changes to the activities that can happen in our rural areas so that our agricultural and horticultural industries can grow and be supported by the right services.
The new permissible uses would enable farming equipment to be repaired, fuelled or maintained, for agricultural goods and equipment to be purchased locally and encourage jobs that support agricultural activities. The changes would also support the growing tourism industry and preserve rural character.
A new objective for the RU6 Transition zone is proposed to limit the impact of new development on the scenic character of our rural areas areas.
The inclusion of artisan food and drink industries as a permitted land use across rural zones reflects the trend of boutique food and drinks operations and will support local growers in showcasing their goods.
The size of the retail component of these premises is limited to either 10% of the gross floor area of the existing industry building on site or 50m2, whichever is the lesser.
A new clause (5.16) is proposed to be introduced to the Local Environmental Plan which will apply to applications for subdivision or new dwellings in rural zones. It will require new developments to demonstrate that they will not impact on or restrict the use of adjoining land for its existing purposes such as agriculture or agricultural industries. This clause is being introduced to protect the core functions of rural land by ensuring any new developments are compatible.
What might change?
The proposed changes to permissible land uses in each rural zone are listed below:
RU1 Primary Production zone
The following uses are proposed as permissible with consent:
• Artisan food and drink industries;
• Rural industries; and
• Service stations.
RU2 Rural Landscape zone
The following uses are proposed as permissible with consent:
• Artisan food and drink industries; and
• Markets.
RU6 Transition zone
The following uses are proposed as permissible with consent:
• Rural industries;
• Markets;
• Cellar door premises; and
• Artisan food and drink industries.
AND the following uses are proposed to be prohibited:
• Public administration buildings;
• Livestock processing industries;
• Sawmill or log processing works; and
• Stock and sale yards.
The definitions of all abovementioned uses are found in the Dictionary that is part of the Local Environmental Plan and are provided on the following page.
FACTSHEET 3
www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/LEP2020 | 9843 0597
PROPOSED CHANGES TO RURAL LAND USES PLANNING PROPOSAL
DRAFT THE HILLS LOCAL
ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 2020
artisan food and drink industry means a building or place the principal purpose of which is the making or manufacture of boutique, artisan or craft food or drink products only. It must also include at least one of the following—
(a) a retail area for the sale of the products, (b) a restaurant or cafe,
(c) facilities for holding tastings, tours or workshops.
Note: There are controls relating to the size of the retail floor area of these developments Note: Artisan food and drink industry is a type of light industry
cellar door premises means a building or place that is used to sell wine by retail and that is situated on land on which there is a commercial vineyard, and where most of the wine offered for sale is produced in a winery situated on that land or is produced predominantly from grapes grown in the surrounding area.
Note: Cellar door premises are a type of retail premises
livestock processing industry means a building or place used for the commercial production of products derived from the slaughter of animals (including poultry) or the processing of skins or wool of animals and includes abattoirs, knackeries, tanneries, woolscours and rendering plants.
Note: Livestock processing industries are a type of rural industry—see the definition of that term in this Dictionary.
market means an open-air area, or an existing building, that is used for the purpose of selling, exposing or offering goods, merchandise or materials for sale by independent stall holders, and includes temporary structures and existing permanent structures used for that purpose on an intermittent or occasional basis.
Note: Markets are a type of retail premises
public administration building means a building used as offices or for administrative or other like purposes by the Crown, a statutory body, a council or an organisation established for public purposes, and includes a courthouse or a police station.
rural industry means the handling, treating, production, processing, storage or packing of animal or plant agricultural products for commercial purposes, and includes any of the following—
(a) agricultural produce industries, (b) livestock processing industries,
(c) composting facilities and works (including the production of mushroom substrate), (d) sawmill or log processing works,
(e) stock and sale yards,
(f) the regular servicing or repairing of plant or equipment used for the purposes of a rural enterprise.
Note: Rural industries are not a type of industry
sawmill or log processing works means a building or place used for handling, cutting, chipping, pulping or otherwise processing logs, baulks, branches or stumps, principally derived from surrounding districts, into timber or other products derived from wood.
Note: Sawmill or log processing works are a type of rural industry
service station means a building or place used for the sale by retail of fuels and lubricants for motor vehicles, whether or not the building or place is also used for any one or more of the following—
(a) the ancillary sale by retail of spare parts and accessories for motor vehicles, (b) the cleaning of motor vehicles,
(c) installation of accessories,
(d) inspecting, repairing and servicing of motor vehicles (other than body building, panel beating, spray painting, or chassis restoration),
(e) the ancillary retail selling or hiring of general merchandise or services or both.
stock and sale yard means a building or place that is used on a commercial basis for the purpose of offering livestock or poultry for sale and that may be used for the short-term storage and watering of stock.
Note: Stock and sale yards are a type of rural industry
Note: By proposing to permit rural industries as a group term in the RU6 Transition zone and prohibit some components of that land use (livestock processing industries, sawmill or log processing works and stock and sale yards) we retain permissibility for the types of rural industry (agricultural produce industries, composting facilities and works, and regular servicing and repairs of plant or equipment of a rural enterprise) that will help our local economy grow while preserving our rural character.
