OUR PLACE 2040 MID-WESTERN REGIONAL LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT MAY 2020 CONTENTS 1. Introduction 3 1.1 About this Local Strategic Planning Statement 3 1.2 Policy Context 3 1.3 Purpose of this Local Strategic Planning Statement 3 1.4 Consultation 3 2. Context 4 2.1 Our Place in the Central West and Orana Region 4 2.2 Our Community 6 2.3 Our Local Advantages 8 2.4 Our Local Opportunities 8 3. Land Use Vision 10 4. Our Themes & Planning Priorities 11 4.1 Planning Priorities 11 4.2 Actions 11 4.3 Structure Plans 11 5. Implementation, Monitoring and Reporting 35 6. References 39 7. Glossary 40 OUR PLACE 2040 – MID-WESTERN REGIONAL LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | MAY 2020 2 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 About this Local Strategic 1.4 Consultation Planning Statement The LSPS has been informed by the results The Mid-Western Regional Local Strategic of community engagement undertaken Planning Statement (LSPS) sets out the 20 in developing the Mid-Western Region year vision for land use planning in the Mid- Community Plan Towards 2030 and recent Western Regional Council local government surveys completed by the community with a area (Region). specific focus on Land Use in the Region. The LSPS outlines land use Planning Priorities Council developed five surveys to capture and sets short, medium and long term community input on Land Use Vision, actions to deliver the Planning Priorities for Growth, Town Centres, Design Considerations the community. and Tourism. 286 responses were received and have helped inform the preparation of The LSPS also outlines the means for the LSPS. monitoring and reporting on the delivery of the actions. 1.2 Policy Context The LSPS is aligned with the Mid-Western Region Community Plan Towards 2030 and gives effect to the Central West and Orana Regional Plan 2036 implementing the directions and actions at a local level. 1.3 Purpose of this Local Strategic Planning Statement All Council’s within NSW are required to prepare a Local Strategic Planning Statement to act as a link between the strategic priorities identified at the regional and local level and ensure consistency in strategic planning approaches. The purpose of the LSPS is to provide a 20 year land use vision for the Region, outline characteristics which make our area special, identify our shared values to be enhanced or maintained and identify where further detailed strategic planning may be needed. OUR PLACE 2040 – MID-WESTERN REGIONAL LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | MAY 2020 3 2. CONTEXT 2.1 Our Place in the Central West and Orana Region The Mid-Western Region covers 8,752 km² The Central West and Orana Regional Plan and is located in the Central Ranges of 2036 vision for the Region is to be ‘the most New South Wales, approximately 210km diverse regional economy in NSW with northwest of Sydney, 250km west of a vibrant network of centres leveraging Newcastle, and 300km north of Canberra. the opportunities of being at the heart of NSW’. The Mid-Western Region’s location, The main town in the Mid-Western Region is broad range of industries and connections Mudgee, located approximately 100km north to Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra provide of Bathurst and 100km southeast of Dubbo. a strong foundation for our place within the The smaller towns of Gulgong, Rylstone, regional and state economy. Kandos, and the Region’s villages are steeped in rich history and surrounded by beautiful farmland. The Castlereagh Highway runs through the centre of the Region in a southeast/ northwest direction. The area is known for its wineries, stunning landscape, and historic villages, and is strongly supported by the mining, tourism, construction and agricultural industries. OUR PLACE 2040 – MID-WESTERN REGIONAL LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | MAY 2020 4 Figure 1 Our Region Map Mendooran Coolah Coolah Tops National Park Dunedoo Cassilis Leadville G Uarbry O L A Y D E N H I G H W Birriwa Turill to Muswellbrook/ Newcastle to Dubbo Goulburn River Ulan National Park Goolma Gulgong Munghorn Gap Nature Wollar Reserve to Muswellbrook/ to Wellington/Orange Bylong Newcastle Cooyal Y A W Y D E R L L A N A L V U G N O Wollemi Mudgee R D L L U E Y National Park B Grattai Avisford Lake Nature Burrendong Reserve C Lue A S T L E R E Lake Windamere A G Hargraves H H I Rylstone Windeyer G H W A Y Dunns Swamp Pyramul Kandos Ilford Wollemi National Park Glen Alice Hill End Running Stream Sofala Glen Davis to Bathurst/Orange Capertee SCALE 5 10 15 20km to Lithgow/Sydney Newnes OUR PLACE 2040 – MID-WESTERN REGIONAL LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | MAY 2020 5 2.2 Our Community unexpected foodie delights, cafes, health services, a public school, and recreational facilities. Rylstone hosts annual events The towns of Mudgee, Gulgong, Rylstone including the Rylstone-Kandos Show, and Kandos support the social and economic Celebration of Aviation, Rylstone Classic, and prosperity of the Mid-Western Region. Rylstone Street Feast. In 2016, there were 174 Mudgee is the main town in the Region, families living in Rylstone and 644 people situated approximately 100km north of overall. Bathurst and 100km southeast of Dubbo. The Kandos is a fascinating twentieth century large country town provides many attractive town with a rich industrial history, nestled offerings, including a wide variety of at the foot of the Coomber Melon mountain restaurants, wineries, schools, health services range. Kandos is the ideal hub to explore and recreational facilities. Mudgee hosts the nature, art and sports attractions. The town monthly farmers’ market to showcase the is accessible to the regional centres of large range of local produce available. The Mudgee, Bathurst, Orange and Lithgow and town hosts many annual events including approximately 230km to Sydney. Kandos the Wine & Food Festival, Agricultural Show, has many attractive facilities such as local NRL Charity Shield, and Small Farm Field schools, two medical practices, the Kandos Days. In 2016, there were 2,736 families living Museum, railway station and golf club. It in Mudgee and 10,966 people overall. hosts annual and bi-annual events including Gulgong is a historic and vibrant the Kandos Street Machine and Cementa goldmining town known for its fascinating Festival and Kandos Garden Tour. In 2016, museums, iconic events and festivals, and there were 290 families living in Kandos and a progressive and passionate community 1,261 people overall. steeped in history. The town offers quality There are a number of Villages within restaurants, cafes and boutique shopping. the Region which have their own distinct Gulgong has many attractive facilities character and form a major component of including health services, recreational the rural landscape. The villages provide offerings and three schools. The town hosts some basic, day-to-day facilities for the many annual and bi-annual events including surrounding rural areas. Villages range in size the Gulgong Show & Rodeo, Clay Gulgong, from a collection of houses or are simply Prince of Wales Eisteddfod, Gold and Mining marked by a hall or bushfire shed. Villages Festival, Henry Lawson Festival and Folk within the Region include: Birriwa, Bylong, Festival. Gulgong is located approximately Charbon, Clandulla, Cooks Gap, Cooyal, 28km north of Mudgee, and leverages from Goolma, Hargraves, Ilford, Lue, Pyramul, the economic and population growth of Running Stream, Ulan, Windeyer and Wollar. Mudgee and the Region. In 2016, there were 611 families living in Gulgong and 1,956 people overall. Rylstone is a charming country town boasting an extraordinary heritage streetscape nestled within a scenic landscape setting. The town is approximately 52km from Mudgee, 240km to Sydney and has many attractive facilities including local pubs, OUR PLACE 2040 – MID-WESTERN REGIONAL LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | MAY 2020 6 Figure 2 Our Local Profile Size of Population Size of Workforce Age Demographic 65+yrs 0-14yrs 19.7% 20.3% 50-64yrs 15-34yrs The Mid-Western Region is home to 20.3% 21.2% 35-49yrs 25,086 10,095 18.5% people people Largest Employing Industries Mining Retail Trade Healthcare and Social Assistance 17.6% 10.6% 9.8% 1,831 1,069 991 PEOPLE EMPLOYED PEOPLE EMPLOYED PEOPLE EMPLOYED Agriculture, Forestry Construction and Fishing 9.0% 8.2% 909 830 PEOPLE EMPLOYED PEOPLE EMPLOYED Tourism Industry Annual Value of Goods & Services 655,000 $170M $1.39 $213 $124 VISITORS TO THE REGION SPEND PER ANNUM BILLION MILLION MILLION Source: ABS 3218.0 Regional Population Growth (Estimated Residential Population), ABS 2016 Census, REMPLAN Economic Profile, Tourism Research Australia 2017, Australian Business Register (ABR), ABS 8165.0 Counts of Australian Businesses, realestate.com.au (June 2019). OUR PLACE 2040 – MID-WESTERN REGIONAL LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | MAY 2020 7 2.3 Our Local Advantages STRONG TRANSPORT LINKS DIVERSE Skilled ECONOMIC Workforce Friendly BASE COMMUNITY 2.4 Our Local Opportunities One of regional NSW’s fastest growing areas, the safe, clean, affordable, comfortable and the Mid-Western Region is a key gateway convenient lifestyle of a friendly country to the Central West and Far West Regions community. The lifestyle available to of the state. Just over 3 hours’ drive from residents is second to none with a wide Sydney and Newcastle, it is easily accessible and diverse range of services, facilities and and centrally located to other major regional employment opportunities. centres. Public transport links from Sydney to Mudgee are provided by CountryLink bus A key feature of the Region’s economy is and train connections. FlyPelican services its diversity, and the Region has a skilled the Mid-Western Region by providing twice and diverse workforce employed in daily flights from Sydney to Mudgee 6 days various industries including mining, retail, a week.