FAQs

Amendment C161egip (the Amendment) proposes to update the East Gippsland Planning Scheme to simplify the planning controls associated with the Lakes Entrance Northern Growth Area (the LENGA).

The LENGA is located within the northern section of Lakes Entrance and was identified for growth back in 2012.  The land was subsequently rezoned and a range of planning controls were applied.  Unfortunately many of those controls are outdated or too complex for development to occur and there has been substantial change in planning policy since 2012.  Council has spent the last three years reviewing the planning context and controls and that review has made a number of recommendations on how Council should update the planning scheme to help facilitate development whilst balancing challenging site constraints such as bushfire, vegetation and waterways.

The review recommended that a number of planning controls be amended or removed and that planning policy and framework pertaining to the LENGA be updated.  In order to implement these recommendations, Council must update the planning scheme by way of a Planning Scheme Amendment.

The Amendment proposes to make the following changes to the planning scheme:

• Remove the Development Contributions Plan Overlay (DCPO) from all land within the precinct. As outlined within the background documentation, the overlay has not worked in terms of funding infrastructure and is also outdated in terms of costs and infrastructure needs.  
• Remove the Native Vegetation Precinct Plan (NVPP) from all land within the precinct. Similar to the above point, the NVPP is outdated and has not been utilised. Furthermore, there are existing planning controls within the scheme that manage the retention and/or removal of native vegetation, making the NVPP superfluous.
• Amend the Development Plan Overlay Schedule 8 (DPO8) and remove it completely from land outside the LENGA. The existing DPO is overly complex and difficult to comply with and the revised version seeks to require much less information while also better addressing the current planning context and site constraints.
• Apply the Environmental Audit Overlay to 135 Palmers Road, Lakes Entrance due to potential contamination risk that was determined as a result of recently completed Preliminary Risk Screen Assessments.
• Make minor amendments to the Design and Development Overlay Schedule 13 (DDO13), Planning Policy Framework and other operational parts of the planning scheme.

Details of the proposed changes relating to the Amendment, including maps, are in the Amendment C161egip Explanatory Report. 

The Development Plan Schedule 8 (DPO8) is proposed to be revised to be clearer, require less information and give more flexibility on potential development outcomes.   

Unlike previously, Council will prepare the development plan on behalf of all landowners for the whole precinct, rather than individual landowners needing to do this themselves. This will be a separate process and there will be more information about this in due course, including additional consultation.

There are a small number of land holdings which already have an approved development plan.  Unfortunately, development plans have a limited lifespan before they require review (generally every 5 years) and so if the development plan has not been acted upon, then it is up for review.

The good news is that Council is already preparing a development plan for the whole precinct so that individual landowners do not need to do one themselves.  The new plan will be drafted in accordance with the revised DPO08 in anticipation of this Amendment being successful.   There will be more information on this in due course for affected landowners.

There are a small number of land holdings which have already paid a contribution under the DCPO as part of their development.  If the Amendment is successful and the DCPO is removed, then Council will organise a refund of any contributions.

Proposed updates to local planning policy, and revised overlay controls provide an updated strategic direction for the long-term future of the LENGA and hopefully make it easier to develop over the next 30 plus years.  The future development of the Growth Area will affect community members who live, work or visit Lakes Entrance. We encourage anybody with an interest in Lakes Entrance to review the Amendment. 

Maps are available in the Amendment documentation to show areas that are affected by changes to overlay controls. 

Yes.  The Amendment process is designed to allow landowners, the community and interested parties the opportunity to have their say.      

The Amendment will be formally exhibited to the community, and we encourage anybody with an interest in the Amendment to make a submission. 

The Important Links on the Your Say Project page provide further information on the Amendment process, how to make a submission and how to request a time to chat with a planner (if required).