Planning Tweed communities for the future

TWEED Shire Council is updating its Development Control Plan to make it easier to understand and more user-friendly.

The new DCP updates aim to support sustainable development that responds to climate change and protects and manages environmentally sensitive areas.

It will also promote a wider variety of housing types and densities, and support the fair and inclusive social and economic wellbeing of the community.

Key changes to the draft include re-grouping content by themes, starting with shire-wide and ending with location-specific, for improved readability, and replacing Locality Plans with Character Statements to represent the unique identity of different areas.

Residential development controls are updated to strengthen the role of site analysis, align landscaping rules with the council’s Cool Towns program, expand controls for small-lot housing and introduce new regulations for detached studios and rural outbuildings.

“We’re also introducing a new Interim Flood Planning Levels Policy to help make future development safer in flood-prone areas,” a Tweed Shire Council spokesperson said.

“This policy uses the latest flood data and mapping to set new minimum building heights and will support changes to Section A3 of the DCP – Development of Flood Liable Land.”

To help shape the updated DCP, the council collaborated across departments, including building and environmental health, development assessment and engineering, inclusive and creative communities, open space planning, roads and stormwater, strategic planning and urban design, sustainability and environment, and communications and engagement.

External advisors comprised local planning consultants, architects and developers.

A drop-in session will be held at the council’s Tweed Heads administration office on Tuesday, November 18, from 4 pm to 6 pm and an online session from 10 am to 11.30 am.

“There’s no formal presentation, just a relaxed opportunity to ask questions, learn more and provide your feedback,” the spokesperson said.

Residents can review the proposed changes and provide input by Wednesday, December 3, at 4 pm.

For information, visit yoursaytweed.com.au/dcp