FAQs

The Lake Macquarie Development Control Plan (LMDCP) 2014 is the supporting document for the Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2014. It provides guidance and details requirements for development that should be taken into account when preparing a Development Application.

Council regularly revises the LMDCP 2014 to ensure that the policy performs its purpose appropriately, to provide additional development guidance where needed, and to address issues or errors. The proposed amendments relate to the implementation of the Lake Macquarie Walking, Cycling and Better Streets Strategy and minor updates to reflect NSW Government policy changes.

Walking, Cycling Better Streets Strategy

Council adopted the Walking, Cycling and Better Streets Strategy in 2021, which recommended a number of updates to the DCP. The DCP amendment aims to provide updated guidance regarding road design speeds and the provision of footpaths and shared paths in new subdivisions

NSW Employment zones reform

The NSW Government is implementing employment zones reform which includes the conversion of business and industrial zones into a new suite of employment zones in the LMLEP. The DCP amendment will update references to business zones to align with the new employment zones in the LMLEP. The new employment zones come into effect on 26 April 2023.

NSW flood prone land package 

It is proposed to remove the static flood map and instead the flooding sections in the DCP will apply to the ‘flood planning area’, consistent with the terminology in the LMLEP. Links to Councils flood report tool will be inserted to provide information on the flood risk and flood planning area.

NSW Government renaming environmental zones to conservation zones (2022)

The NSW Government renamed environmental zones to conservation zones. The conservation zone names came into effect in the LMLEP on 1 December 2022. The proposed amendment will update all references of environmental zones to conservation zones. 

Updates State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPS)

The NSW Government restructured State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) by combining several SEPP’s into one. Updates to the DCP are proposed to align with the new SEPP names.

Design speed is different to sign posted speed. Design speeds influence the speed of vehicles through the design of the street. Design features such as traffic calming devices, raised crossings, streets trees, street length and intersection treatments can encourage vehicles to slow down.

 The ‘Safe System’ framework for road safety is an important concept now reflected at the State and national policy level. The Safe System recognises people will inevitably make mistakes and may have road crashes, but the road system should be forgiving and crashes should not result in death or serious injury.

Safe System guidance provides clear direction that pedestrians and cyclists should be separated from motorised traffic or speeds reduced to 30kmh or less. Lower speeds results in fewer crashes, as road users have more time for reacting and decision making and can stop within a shorter distance. Consequently, impacts on people and vehicles are less severe and the likelihood of serious injury or death is reduced. At vehicle speeds of 30kmh or less, pedestrians and cyclists can mix with low traffic volumes. At vehicle speeds of more than 30kmh, the chances of survival decrease rapidly. Traffic separated infrastructure is recommended or, if this is not possible, streets should be designed to reduce the likelihood and severity of impact.

The DCP amendment aims to ensure certain residential streets are designed for speeds of 30km/h. These are streets where people live and play. Although these streets don't have cycle lanes or shared paths, cyclists can use these streets to access the broader cycling network.

Reducing speeds on local streets has little impact on overall travel time as these streets quickly connect to main roads.

The document on public exhibition contains only those sections of LMDCP 2014 with changes proposed as part of this revision. 

Where it is proposed to remove text, it is represented by strikethrough of that text. Proposed new text is represented by highlighting. 

For a complete copy of the existing LMDCP 2014, visit: 

www.lakemac.com.au/Development/Planning-controls/Local-Planning-Controls