DUNGOG Shire Council has endorsed a submission in response to the NSW Government’s response ‘A New Approach to Strategic Planning’ discussion paper.
The paper proposes a revised three-tiered strategic planning framework and introduces seven statewide priorities to guide land use planning across NSW.
According to the State Government, the proposed new framework aims to:
● reduce duplication across the strategic planning system
● align housing, jobs and infrastructure planning
● support councils with clearer guidance and direction
● make planning priorities and policies easier to navigate and implement.
The paper also proposes new regional planning boundaries that would move Dungog Shire from the Hunter region into a broader Regional NSW classification.
While Council broadly supports the intent to simplify and better align strategic land use planning with infrastructure delivery, it is “strongly opposed” to the removal of Dungog Shire from the Hunter region classification.
“Council considers that effective regional planning must reflect genuine functional relationships, including shared infrastructure systems, labour markets and environmental assets, all of which the Dungog Shire currently shares with its Hunter Joint Organisation council partners,”a spokesperson for Dungog Shire Council said in a statement.
“Dungog Shire plays a critical role in the Lower Hunter’s drinking water supply, contributing approximately 65 percent of the region’s water through Chichester Dam, Grahamstown Dam (via the Williams River), and supplementary river systems.
“Council is concerned that reclassification into a single Regional NSW plan would weaken coordinated planning for these interdependent systems and undermine regional water security outcomes.”
Council’s submission supports retaining existing Hunter regional boundaries and strengthening governance arrangements through Joint Organisations to ensure coordinated infrastructure, land use and environmental planning across functionally connected areas.
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