concessional Lots abolished

May 12, 2008: Concessional lots have been abolished by the State Planning Minister, Frank Sartor.

The State Environmental Planning Policy (Rural Lands) 2008 that was gazetted last Friday, May 9, removed the concessional lots subdivision provisions from the Bega Valley Local Environmental Plan 2002.

Group Manager of Planning, Development and Environmental Services, Andrew Woodley, advised councillors of the change at Tuesday’s Council meeting.

He said the aims of the new policy were identified as:

• to facilitate the orderly and economic use and development of rural lands for rural and related purposes;
• to identify the Rural Planning Principles and the Rural Subdivision Principles so as to assist in the proper management, development and protection of rural lands for the purpose of promoting the social, economic and environmental welfare of the State;
• to implement measures designed to reduce land use conflicts;
• to identify State-significant agricultural land for the purpose of ensuring the ongoing viability of agriculture on that land, having regard to social, economic and environmental considerations;
• to amend provisions of other environmental planning instruments relating to concessional lots in rural subdivisions.

Mr Woodley said Council was no longer able to consider any development application for concessional lot subdivision received after close of business last Friday, May 9.

Development applications lodged before that date but not yet determined would be assessed under the provisions of BVLEP 2002 prior to amendment by the Policy.

"Council can proceed to deal with these as ‘business as usual’, including any subsequent applications for dwelling-houses," he said.

"Currently there are 46 undetermined development applications for concessional lot subdivisions with a total of 283 lots proposed."

Mr Woodley said the erection of dwelling-houses on Crown portions was still permitted with Council consent.

 Subdivision for the purposes of boundary adjustment with (or sale to) an adjoining property owner for agricultural purposes was still permitted with Council consent - provided the land to be subdivided did not have a house on it.