Background

In December 2022, Council received a draft Planning Proposal seeking to rezone the same site at Brooks Point Road, Appin, for a mix of residential and conservation purposes. This proposal ran though the standard process of preliminary notification (February – March2023), Local Planning Panel report (June 2023), and Council report in November of 2023.

Council at the time resolved not to support the proposal. While recognising the need for housing, Council considered the project is premature without infrastructure, and sequencing plans for the Appin growth area.

Following Council’s resolution, the proponent requested a rezoning review via the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in 2024. The rezoning review was not supported due to servicing challenges.

The proposal did not progress at the time. However a proponent may resubmit a planning proposal. This can happen for a number of reasons, including if they believe circumstances have changes. 

Council is obliged to assess any planning proposal and follow the same process of preliminary notification to seek agency and community feedback. We will similarly need to prepare reports for the Local Planning Panel and Council, undertaking a fresh assessment of the planning proposal to determine if anything has substantially changed. 

Council must now reassess this planning proposal.