Frequently Asked Questions

The Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) is Murray River Council’s plan for our community’s social, environmental and economic land use needs over the next 20 years. The LSPS provides context and direction for land use decision making within the Murray River Council area and builds on the Murray River Council – Community Strategic Plan 2018-2028.

It will be the top-level document that will guide future land use planning decisions for the local area and provide a strategic planning framework for our New Local Environment Plan to be prepared.

In March 2018, amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (the EP&A Act) introduced a new requirement for local councils to prepare and make an LSPS. 

Council is required to finalise its LSPS by 30 June 2020.

The LSPS provides a platform to document community priorities and aspirations and suggest actions to guide future land use planning decisions for local areas, communities and townships.

As such, the LSPS will inform the content for Councils planning controls and shape Council’s New Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) that will evolve over time. 

Its purpose is to:

• Provide a 20-year land use and development vision for the entire Murray River Council area; including guidance on where future housing, jobs and services will go and the type of development that will occur
• Outline the characteristics that contribute to our identity and make our area special
• Identify shared community assets & values to be enhanced or maintained
• Direct how future growth and diversity/change will be managed
• Identify and prioritise changes to planning rules in the Local Environmental Plan (Murray Local Environmental Plan 2011 and Wakool Local Environment Plan 2013) and Council’s Development Control Plans that provide balanced decisions and community outcomes

The content of the LSPS will address regional and district planning initiatives and what our community has told us is important for the future of our area from the recent Community Strategic Plan 2018-2028 process, by taking these initiatives one step further.

Whilst initially, the LSPS will help guide and shape the development of the new Murray River Council LEP, it will also be a top-level document to guide future land use decisions and help describe and tell “Our Story” about what we want Murray River Council communities to look and feel like in future.

Examples of when an LSPS could be used include:

• to explain changes and the rationale for zoning, development standards and other controls of an LEP or DCP 
• to support delivery of strategies for economic growth in the council area where council has clearly defined its employment centres and the nature of uses appropriate for these locations
• identifying areas where a council is seeking to encourage new or innovative employment generating uses 
• to show and attract future product development, such as areas of heritage or environmental significance 
• to assist in identifying sites or areas of local importance for further investigation, protection or development opportunities

By setting clear directions and priorities for the future, the LSPS will also be a tool to seek support from the State and Commonwealth Governments for projects and funding for the municipality.

It also provides the opportunity to set priorities for the character and atmosphere of our localities and to cater for changing demographics and population needs. This may focus on land use for housing, employment, and tourism where we may look towards solutions that revitalise our centres to improve amenity and viability. 

Council has been developing the draft LSPS over the last few months. Community consultation is now underway to inform and refine the Statement as it is developed.

A review of Council’s existing plans - including the recently developed Local Profile - along with visions captured in our Community Strategic Plan engagement process will also inform the development of a draft LSPS.

At different stages in the preparation of the LSPS Council will be consulting with the community and other stakeholders. 

Council is encouraging community members and stakeholders to use this platform to share their thoughts about:

• What they value about MRC into the future (2040 outlook)
• Things they’d like to see improved or planned better in the local area (acknowledging a balanced community outcome is a desired outcome)
• Things that should be preserved or enhanced (or even innovated)

We are seeking your views on how we use land across these key areas:

• Environmental values
• Social/Cultural and Heritage Values
• Business and Economic drivers
• Community Services (Health & sustainable/liveable communities)
• Agriculture, Tourism and Innovative industries. 

Your input will be used to develop the community’s vision, priorities, and actions for how we plan to use land in the local area. 

To make a submission, ask a question or share an idea please head to the submission tabs on our LSPS homepage.  

A separate process will be undertaken for implementing the changes to Murray River Council’s LEP and DCP following the LSPS Priorities and Actions. These changes are likely to involve the planning controls (i.e. zoning and design guidelines) located in these documents.

You will be given the opportunity to have your say on these changes, as the process will be subject to the normal public consultation requirements and will need to be supported by Council. 

A LEP is an environmental planning instrument prepared by a Council, in consultation with their community and approved by the Minister for Planning (or their delegate). It includes development standards that aim to guide the future development of land and the management of environmental, social, economic, heritage and cultural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

We currently have two LEPs that cover Murray River Council:

• Murray Local Environmental Plan 2011
• Wakool Local Environmental Plan 2013

A new, single whole-of-council LEP will be developed following the development of our LSPS. A council must consider its LSPS as part of the LEP making process.

A DCP contains guidelines that complement the development standards in a LEP. It contains a comprehensive set of design objectives and guidelines which focus on more detailed development aspects to achieve the aims and objectives of a LEP.

Examples of DCP design guidelines:

• building setbacks from property boundaries
• building design
• landscape design
• energy efficiency 

A new, single whole-of-council DCP will be developed following the development of our LSPS. A council must consider its LSPS as part of the DCP development process.