The Lake is a Lake

You may recall hearing about LMCC’s ongoing discussions with the State government in their bid get the ‘new & improved’ Lake Macquarie Local Environment Plan (LMLEP) out and about for community discussion. 

One of the sticking points had been that the State wanted to zone the actual Lake as a recreational waterway. A zoning of similar intent is over the Penrith Lakes system. Our Council stood firm for the natural ecosystem, The Lake is a natural Lake, and took the issue to the Department and Minister.

In June 2012 many of Council’s concerns were addressed which means the LMLEP2012 will go out for community comment in the foreseeable future. Some of the concerns that got addressed include:

• Lake Macquarie (the Lake) being zoned W1 Natural Waterway
• 'Deferred’ sites under LMLEP 2004 remaining ‘deferred’ under LMLEP 2012, or being zoned to reflect their existing developed uses.
• Existing mine and quarry sites being zoned SP1 Special Activities
• Investigation land under LMLEP 2004 being converted to RU6 Transition zone under LMLEP 2011.

You can keep up to date on the the LMLEP2012 progress by subscribing to the planning newsletter .