The City Wide Settlement Strategy (CWSS) was adopted by Council on 15 September 2010.

The CWSS sets out strategic directions to inform the preparation of the new LEP and implements a number of the outcomes and actions arising from the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy 2006. A fundamental action from the CWSS is the need to contain the urban footprint of the Cessnock LGA to that identified in the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy 2006 and the CWSS. Projected population forecasts in the LHRS have yet to be realised in the Cessnock LGA. A conservative approach needs to be taken to the development of land beyond that already identified for growth to ensure that the community is provided with an appropriate level of service and support.

Copies of the City Wide Settlement Strategy (2010) are available to view via the links below. Hard copies may be viewed at Council’s Administration Centre and Libraries.

Executive Summary

Section 1: Context

1 Overview

1.1 Cessnock As Part Of The Hunter Region
1.2 Cessnock As A Place
1.3 Cessnock As A Community

2 Planning Framework

2.1 State and Regional Policy
2.2 Local Planning
2.3 Monitoring Growth
2.4 Review of the CWSS (2010)

3 Planning for Growth

3.1 Ecologically Sustainable Development
3.2 Sustainable Communities
3.3 Planning Principles

Section 2: Housing

4 Settlement Hierarchy

4.1 Existing Settlement Growth
4.2 Supporting A Settlement Hierarchy
4.3 Establishing A Residential Hierarchy
4.4 Defining the Urban Footprint
4.5 Directions
4.6 Actions

5 Residential Land (4.8Mb)

5.1 New Release Areas (LHRS)
5.2 Sequencing and Timing of Land Release
5.3 Infill Housing Opportunities
5.4 Infill Housing (Small Area Rezonings)
5.5 Affordable Housing
5.6 Directions
5.7 Actions

6 Village Growth (5.6Mb)

6.1 Village Status in the Residential Hierarchy
6.2 Opportunities for Village Growth
6.3 Housing Densities in the Village zone
6.4 Minimum Lot Sizes
6.5 Directions
6.6 Actions

7 Rural-Residential Land

7.1 Subdivision Provisions in Cessnock LEP 1989
7.2 Market Trends
7.3 Connection costs for reticulation systems
7.4 Optimum Lot Size for Rural-Residential Land
7.5 The Standard Instrument
7.6 Containing the Urban Footprint
7.7 Opportunities for ‘infill’ Small Area Rezonings
7.8 Directions
7.9 Actions

8 Rural Living

8.1 Rural Subdivision and Dwellings
8.2 Existing Holdings
8.3 Rural Worker’s Dwelling
8.4 Opportunities for Future Rural Settlement Growth
8.5 Directions
8.6 Actions

Section 3: Economic Development

9 Commercial Centres (3.4Mb)

9.1 Introduction
9.2 Existing Commercial Hierarchy (CWSS, 2005)
9.3 Commercial Hierarchy (LHRS, 2006)
9.4 Planning For Growth
9.5 Directions
9.6 Actions

10 Employment Lands (8Mb)

10.1 Introduction
10.2 Existing Land Supply
10.3 Demand for Land
10.4 Planning For Growth
10.5 Strategic Planning Framework and Principles
10.6 Additional Industrial Land
10.7 Land Within HEZ
10.8 The Standard Instrument
10.9 Directions
10.10 Actions

11 Tourism

11.1 Introduction
11.2 Value of tourism to the local economy
11.3 The Vineyards District
11.4 Rural Tourism
11.5 Tourism and heritage issues
11.6 Tourism and Sustainable Agriculture
11.7 Tourism and Infrastructure
11.8 Directions
11.9 Actions

12 Infrastructure

12.1 Introduction
12.2 Existing Council Infrastructure
12.3 Water and Sewer
12.4 Lower Hunter Regional Strategy
12.5 Changes To Infrastructure Contributions
12.6 Implications for Council’s Section 94 Plans
12.7 Planning For Growth
12.8 Standard Instrument
12.9 Directions
12.10 Actions

Section 4: The Environment and Natural Resources

13 Biodiversity and Conservation

13.1 Regional Strategies
13.2 Existing Environmental Conservation Areas
13.3 Water Resources and Wetlands
13.4 National Parks
13.5 Directions
13.6 Actions

14 Primary Industry

15 Agriculture (4.5Mb)

15.1 Sustainable Agriculture
15.2 Agricultural Suitability
15.3 Agricultural Capability
15.4 Incompatible Land Uses
15.5 Intensive Livestock and Extensive Agriculture
15.6 Minimum Lot Size for Dwelling Entitlement
15.7 Need for an Agricultural lands Study
15.8 Directions
15.9 Actions

16 Viticulture

16.1 Defining the Viticultural District
16.2 Development Consent for Commercial Vineyards
16.3 Directions
16.4 Actions

17 Forestry

17.1 Contribution of Forestry to Biodiversity Conservation
17.2 Directions
17.3 Actions

18 Resource Extraction

18.1 Mining
18.2 Extractive Industries
18.3 Directions
18.4 Actions

Section 5: Combined Mapping

Appendix A: Comparison Table with CWSS 2003