INVERELL SHIRE LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT 2036 Inverell Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement 2036 | 2 Acknowledgement Inverell Shire Council acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, the Gamilaray and Anaiwan people, and pays respect to Elders past, present and future. This Statement acknowledges a strong belief amongst Aboriginal people that if we care for country, it will care for us. This is supported by the knowledge that the health of a people and their community is reliant on a strong physical and emotional connection to place. Inverell Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement 2036 | 3 Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Regional Context .................................................................................................................................... 8 Community Profile ............................................................................................................................... 12 Our Local Advantages & Opportunities ............................................................................................... 14 Our Vision ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Key Themes & Planning Priorities ........................................................................................................ 21 Theme 1 – Strong Local Economy ........................................................................................................ 22 Theme 2 – Thriving, Liveable and Authentic Places ............................................................................ 28 Theme 3 – Strong and Connected Infrastructure ................................................................................ 34 Theme 4 – Sustainable and Protected Environment ........................................................................... 38 Action Plan ............................................................................................................................................ 43 Planning Priorities and Action Matrix ................................................................................................. 44 Inverell Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement 2036 | 4 Figures Figure 1: LSPS Framework ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Figure 2: Inverell Local Government Area (LGA) .................................................................................................... 8 Figure 3: Inverell’s Regional Interconnectness ....................................................................................................... 9 Figure 4: Boundary Adjustment to include Tingha and surrounding area............................................................ 11 Figure 5: Inverell LGA’s major agribusiness and advantages ................................................................................ 15 Figure 6: Planning context of the LSPS ................................................................................................................. 21 Figure 7: Inverell Shire LSPS Key Themes and Planning Priorities ........................................................................ 21 Abbreviations CSP Community Strategic Plan DCP Development Control Plan DPIE Department of Planning, Industry and Environment EP&A Act Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 LALC Local Aboriginal Land Council LEP Local Environmental Plan LGA Local Government Area LSPS Local Strategic Planning Statement Version Number Adopted Date V01 1 July 2020 Inverell Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement 2036 | 5 Introduction The Inverell Shire Local Strategic Planning The Purpose of this LSPS Statement (LSPS) 2036 aims to meet our community’s future social, economic and The LSPS supports the Regional Plan by environmental needs by addressing important implementing the actions at a local level. The strategic land use planning and development issues. Inverell LSPS will: The LSPS will shape our land use over time and the Provide a land use vision for the Inverell development standards that we use. It identifies Shire; priorities for the Inverell Local Government Area Identify our shared values to be enhanced (LGA) that will support and develop our local or maintained; identity, values and opportunities. Short, medium and long-term actions have been developed to help Outline the characteristics that make the deliver on these priorities and our vision for the Inverell Shire special; future. Outline our advantages and opportunities; Direct how future growth and change will The LSPS has been informed by state and regional be managed; plans, including the New England North West Regional Plan 2036 (Regional Plan) and the Inverell Identify possible changes to planning Shire Community Strategic Plan 2009-2029 (CSP). provisions and development controls; Aligning with these plans will allow us to deliver Identify where further strategic land use purposeful land use outcomes, including supplying planning may be needed; and a variety of housing options, expanding tourism and growing our agricultural and emerging industries. Explain how the strategies and key actions will be implemented. The LSPS has been prepared in accordance with Clause 3.9 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). Figure 1: LSPS Framework Inverell Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement 2036 | 6 Regional Context Inverell Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement 2036 | 7 Regional Context The Inverell Shire is located within the New England North West region, which is one of the State’s largest agricultural and food producers. Inverell is located between Sydney and Brisbane and the high-quality transport networks to Newcastle, Sydney and South East Queensland provide good access to domestic and international markets and services. Figure 2: Inverell Local Government Area (LGA) The town of Inverell is nestled alongside the Macintyre (from the 2016 census to June 2018), making it one of River on the western slopes of the New England Region the fastest growing regional centres in the state. (Figure 2). It is located on the Gwydir Highway, seven (7) hours north-west of Sydney. The Shire stretches The regional cities of Tamworth and Armidale are north to the Queensland border and is surrounded by located approximately 200km south and 125km south Moree Plains, Gwydir, Glen Innes Severn and Armidale east of Inverell. These regional cities and the Shire’s Regional LGAs. interconnectedness with the other major regional centres of Gunnedah, Narrabri, Moree and Glen Innes The town of Inverell is the focal centre of the Shire. will provide new jobs, housing, education and health Inverell has strong east-west road connections which services. These links will assist in creating healthy and provide essential retail, commercial and community thriving communities across the region. services to a range of rural communities (Figure 3). The next 20 years will be an exciting period of change The villages of Ashford, Gilgai, Yetman, Tingha, and growth for our Shire as new industries emerge, Bonshaw and Delungra fulfil local service needs and communities grow and the regional economy contribute to the authentic character of the Shire. continues to flourish. New residents will come to call With a population of over 16,000, Inverell Shire the Inverell Shire home and existing residents will continues to produce a growth rate of 2.5 per cent enjoy the benefits of living in a prosperous area. Inverell Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement 2036 | 8 Figure 3: Inverell’s regional interconnectedness (source: New England North West Regional Plan 2036) Inverell Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement 2036 | 9 Inverell has claims to: New England North West Regional Plan In August 2017, the NSW Government released the Regional Agriculture based on Plan, which provides the following vision for the New England highly productive soils as North West: well as fine wool, beef cattle and sheep meat “…nationally valued landscapes and strong, industries. successful communities from the Great Dividing Range to the rich black soil plains...” Beef processing ‘Bindaree Beef’ is the To achieve this vision, the NSW Government has set the Shire’s largest employer. following regionally focused goals: A strong and dynamic regional economy; The Shire is a major A healthy environment with pristine waterways; contributor to the Strong infrastructure and transport networks for a world’s sapphire connected future; and production and is a Attractive and thriving communities. popular visitor destination for gem stone fossicking. The Regional Plan provides an overarching framework to guide planning priorities, subsequent and more detailed land use Wind and solar plans, development proposals and infrastructure funding decisions at the local level to 2036. energy production are growing industries in Our LSPS is designed to achieve the vision of the New England the Shire that provide job North West Regional Plan 2036 and also meet the needs of our opportunities and reduce community, as reflected in our Community Strategic Plan 2009- reliance on non-renewable 2029. energy sources. The Regional Plan states a leading 21st Century Economy has Copeton Dam is productive landscapes, innovative new industries, global access