Metropolitan Rural Area - Frequently Asked Questions

The Metropolitan Rural Area (MRA) is that area of Greater Sydney which is generally outside the established and planned urban areas.

It is identified as a mapped area in the Greater Cities Commission's Greater Sydney Regional Plan and Western City District Plan, which provide the strategic planning framework and policy at a regional and district level.

The purpose and intent of the MRA is to protect and enhance the unique range of environmental, social and economic values in rural areas (which includes rural towns and villages) across the Greater Sydney Region.

These areas are recognised for their contribution to habitat and biodiversity, supporting productive agriculture, providing mineral and energy resources and sustaining local rural towns and villages.

The MRA is a mapped area which applies to various parts of the Greater Sydney Region, including certain parts of Wollondilly. The MRA applies to the entire Wollondilly Local Government Area, with the exception of the following areas:

•  NSW Government led priority growth areas (Wilton Priority Growth Area and the Greater Macarthur Priority Growth Area);
• National Parks;
• Special Areas with no access
• The Camden Park Residental Area

The boundaries for the Metropolitan Rural Area are determined by the Greater Sydney Commission through the Greater Sydney Region Plan. The planning proposal seeks to include a new map within the local environmental plan that clearly identifies land within the Metropolitan Rural Area.

It is not possible to amend the boundaries for the Metropolitan Rural Area through this process.

A Local Environmental Plan is the key statutory document at a local level.

On 26 March, 2021, Wollondilly's Local Environmental Plan was amended to ensure that the values of the Metropolitan Rural Area are given appropriate consideration in the assessment of any future development application for a land use which is proposed within the MRA. In particular, the amendments require the consent authority to give consideration to the following before granting consent to any development application:

• enhancing habitat and biodiversity;
• Adequate buffers to protect productive agriculture;
• Preventing incompatible uses in rural areas;
• Preserving land for productive rural uses;
• Protecting mineral and energy resources and extractive industries;
• Maintaining and enhancing the distinctive character or each of the local rural towns and villages;
• Preserving scenic lands;
• Protecting areas of cultural and heritage value;
• Adequately managing hazards

These amendments also ensured that Council's Local Environmental Plan was consistent with the Regional and District planning framework.

A development control plan (DCP) provides guidance for new development which requires a development application. A DCP provides a series of objectives and controls to help guide development and ultimately serves to support a Local Environmental Plan.

The proposed controls for inclusion in the DCP would provide further guidance both to applicants in preparing a development application for a new use on land within the MRA and would improve the consistency of the application of the provisions that were incorporated into Council's Local Environmental plan in 2021.