Today, 29 Novemeber 2024, MidCoast Council released a snapshot of the consultation it undertook in relation to their Draft Local Environmental Plan from 30 April - 14 July 2024.
This will affect the zoning at North Arm Cove, and other Paper-Subdivisions in the MidCoast Council local government area.
Looks like there were 520 submissions...and we are anticipating quite a few were from North Arm Cove Ratepayers.
Did you make a submission? Please response in the comments section below.
Let's hope MidCoast Council is listening to the ratepayers who took the time to have input.
Stay tuned for the Final Plan to be put on public exhibition for comment.
​
Regards,
NACRPA Committee
29 November 2024

THE ANNUAL NORTH ARM COVE COMMUNITY BBQ IS A GREAT PLACE TO FIND OUT!
On the 26 November 2024, more than 80 North Arm Cove Landowners came together again to find each other and share their stories of connection at the second annual NAC Community BBQ, held at the North Arm Cove Community Hall. This is event is special because it is for urban and non-urban landowners alike. We also had speeches from newly elected MidCoast Councillor Thomas O'Keefe, and updates provided by Alathan Pty Ltd and Dejan Simovic, who are both preparing prosposals for unlocking development at North Arm Cove.

This article was written by Sylvia Lee:
A huge shout out to the NACRPA Committee for all of your time and efforts to making this event such a success today.
I really enjoyed meeting so many like-minded folks and am already looking forward to the next one...
Thanks to you guys today, that I was fortunate enough to meet my lovely neighbours and had an extra reason to visit my block on such a beautiful day...
Awesome to meet so many locals and looking forward to growing our group... if we each shared a social media post looking for Non-urban landowners to join our group and grow our commitment and numbers towards reaching our goals!

7 November 2024
 
 North Arm Cove Ratepayers Association
[email protected]
www.northarmcove.org.au
 
Kate Washington MP
Minister for Families and Communities
Member for Port Stephens
[email protected]
 
7 Reasons for Optimism at North Arm Cove
 
Dear Kate,
 
With over 80% of the voting base at North Arm Cove consisting of non-urban landowners, we would like the
opportunity to explain why our Association remains optimistic about the future. It’s easy to think that nothing is ever going to change for non-urban landowners at North Arm Cove, however, we have identified seven (7) valid reasons that support a development solution for the 2,500 ratepayers who haven’t thrown in the towel and hold on to their modest dream of building on their block of land.
 
1. In March this year, the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, State Government, directed MidCoast Council through its Gateway Determination Report, NOT to down-zone North Arm Cove non-urban lots to Environmental Management (the recommendation in their Draft Rural Strategy), but instead to C4 Environmental Living, with 5-hectare minimum lot size for development. Yes, 5 hectares is a greater lot size than most of us have, but it leaves the door open for future consideration.The new C4 Environmental Living zoning also means that Council will need to find a solution for services for this type of development, solving historical land use issues at North Arm Cove such as sewer and water reticulation.
 
2. The North Arm Cove Paper-Subdivision was specifically mentioned in the Hunter Regional Plan 2041. This is significant because for the first time ever, the State Government is exerting its power over Local Government to find a resolution with the long-held issues surrounding development of Paper Subdivisions.

3. Now shout this to the rooftops…THERE IS A PATHWAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PAPER-SUBDIVISIONS LIKE OURS AT NORTH ARM COVE…and it goes like this...

• a Development Plan is submitted to the NSW State Government
• the State Government appoints a subdivision authority to manage the Process
• a Ballot is sent to all non-urban landowners
• for a Development Plan to go ahead...60% of landowners need to vote YES and 60% of the land area needs to be included.

 
4. There is not ONE 1 but TWO 2 entities currently working on a Development Solution for North Arm Cove;
1. Firstly, there is Dejan and Tatjana who have been very active leading their Initiative Project. Their plan involves honouring the Walter Burley Griffin subdivision layout, creating a Cooperative and obtaining funding to underwrite a Development Plan.
 
2. Secondly, we have a private company called Alathan P/L, who historically own most of the road network at NAC. Consequently, as the third largest landowner at North Arm Cove, Alathan P/L are in the process of undertaking the studies required to address Council’s constraints e.g. for bushfire and biodiversity assessments, and will ultimately put forward a Development Proposal to the State Government. 

5. The Housing Crisis is now a political battlefield, with both sides finding ways to accommodate new housing projects. NAC is on the northern tip of the fastest growing region in NSW and is 30 mins from an expanding airport which will require hundreds of new workers. The Federal Liberal Party released a policy recently that secures $5Billion to pay for Infrastructure such as Sewer and Power and Roads in order to release new supply for the fastest growth areas of Australia. Albanese fired back saying they will spend more!! Never in our history has new land supply been front and centre for the voting public.

6. MidCoast Council have advised that they will support any project that will not cost them anything. How could they refuse the unlocking of 3,000 upgraded land rates fees which are based on valuation from a rezoned land subdivision?

•   2,500 lots (ratepayers) x $400 annual rates per year = $1,000,000 annual revenue for Council.

If developed...

•   2,500 lots x $2,800 annual rates per year = $7,000,000 annual revenue for Council.

As long as the biodiversity and bushfire issues are dealt with, the economic development opportunity at North Arm Cove is many, many millions...you can read more on our website about the ​Development Potential of North Arm Cove
 
7. The NAC Paper Subdivision is a great opportunity to take a different look at the planning principles currently in place. The State Planning Authority should be presented with a new strategy of creating a community that is basedon a carbon neutral, circular economy, which immerses itself within nature and, resulting in the attraction of interest from around Australia and beyond.
 
So, for these 7 reasons our Association continues to try and seek other non-urban owners out and advocate for the 2,500 of us who have been excluded and placed in the ‘too hard basket’.

Yes, at times it seems like a race to the moon…but at least there is a race!
 
Thank you for your time and coming to visit North Arm Cove. In comprising over 80% of voters in North Arm
Cove, the non-urban landowners believe their voices are important, which is why this letter is hand delivered to you today.
 
Kind Regards,

David Buxton

David Buxton
President, NACRPA
[email protected]

 Another great example of one of the 70 submissions made to MidCoast Council, as part of the recent "Have Your Say" community consultation into Council's draft Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

...I am very much in favour of the State Government's directive to MidCoast Council to consider the paper subdivision of North Arm Cove as C4 Environmental Living, rather than C3 Environmental Management.

However, I believe the Council's draft Local Environmental Plan (LEP) doesn't go far enough, in that it doesn't place enough value on retaining the heritage element of Walter and Marion Griffin's original subdivision, nor the social and economic benefits which could be achieved by implementing a modernised version of that plan - for example incorporating sustainable housing objectives, village-style community focus and small-space living.

I urge the Council to work with sustainability-focused architects and town planners to establish a Development Plan for the North Arm Cove paper subdivision which incorporates the best modern environmental practices and the Griffins' sympathetic co-operation with the topography and flora/fauna.

MidCoast Council has a unique opportunity in North Arm Cove to place themselves at the forefront of sustainable development and, in doing so, increase both their rates income and tourism potential through establishing a Griffin memorial village.

​Submission from a North Arm Cove ratepayer, July 2024

​It's time to Have Your Say in the Council's consultation period for their new Local Environmental Plan (LEP), which will decide what the future zoning will be at North Arm Cove. This will also affect what we can and can't do on our blocks in the future.
​
The good news is that the NSW Dept. of Planning recently directed Council not to downzone the paper-subdivision to C3 Environmental Management, but instead to C4 Environmental Living. You can read more about this in the Gateway Determination Report.

You need to make a submission by 11.59pm Sunday 14 July.
Last time NAC ratepayers made more than 114 submissions, so let's see if we can beat that?!

Here's how to do it in 6 easy steps:
1. Click on the website link haveyoursay.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/draft-midcoast-local-environmental-plan
and then scroll down to this box, where it says "Read the Planning Proposal and make a submission".
2. Read these documents if you are interested. The most important one is the Gateway Determination Report, which is where NSW Dept of Planning (State Gov) is telling Council what the zoning for North Arm Cove should be - C4 Environment Living.
3. Click through to this page and fill in your details. Then click NEXT.
4. Make your comments in this box.
5. Here's an example of what you could say...but your need to put this in your own words...no copying!
6. When you are successful you should receive this message. Congratulations, pat yourself on the back!

Mid Coast Council have released their Community Strategic Plan for 2025-2035. The plan can be viewed at MidCoast Community Strategic Plan | Have Your Say (nsw.gov.au)
 
Non urban paper subdivision landowners are not defined or included as part of the Community, which has been a real issue for us to have our voice to be consulted and listened to.

The North Arm Cove Ratepayers Association NACRPA will be providing a strong submission, to ensure we are included in any future community consultation on matters that impacts our land. As we know, we have power in numbers.

Please provide your feedback at MidCoast Community Strategic Plan | Have Your Say (nsw.gov.au) Feedback must be provided before Sunday 30 June 2024.

The statement highlighted above is NOT TRUE. We were deliberately EXCLUDED from the Community Consultation process.

Read this article by clicking on the link here