FAQs
What is a Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS)?
An LSPS is a high level planning document that sets out:
• the 20-year vision for land use in the local area
• the special characteristics which contribute to local identity
• shared community values to be maintained and enhanced
• how growth and change will be managed into the future.
Why do we need to prepare an LSPS?
In March 2018, the NSW Government introduced amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) which mandated that Councils prepare an LSPS.
Doesn't Council already have an LSPS?
Yes, an LSPS was prepared and adopted by Council in October 2020.
However since that time the Advancing our Region Community Plan (CP) 2022-32 has been adopted by Council. The CP is a ten-year plan that outlines the goals and aspirations of the community, captured through extensive community engagement which attracted over 1800 submissions.
Integral to the CP was the adoption of the aspirational population and job growth targets and the associated water security package. As the existing LSPS did not reflect these target a new LSPS needed to be prepared.
The new LSPS provides a land use planning strategy which will help the community to realise the growth targets adopted by Council in the CP in a sustainable, efficient and structured manner.
What is the purpose of this LSPS?
This LSPS is a a pivotal tool for Council to use at the local strategic planning level. The LSPS is primarily a high-level strategic planning document that will be used to local statutory plans (i.e. LEP's) and development controls (i.e. DCP's), and will help give effect to regional and district plans (i.e. the New England North West Regional Plan).
The LSPS has been informed by the strategic and community planning work undertaken in the development of the Advancing our Region Community Plan 2022-32 (CP). Over 1800 submissions were received from the community during the development of the CP and informed the growth agenda that was adopted at that time.
The LSPS will be the key resource to understand how strategic and statutory planning related matters will be implemented at the local level.
What makes the Armidale Region different in attracting jobs and people?
Many regional areas in NSW and indeed Australia have adopted ambitious population growth targets.
Turning that into substance is the challenge and that requires a clearly defined and meaningful strategy to generate jobs and therefore population growth because without jobs to draw people to our region the population targets are not meaningful.
Historically, the engine room of Armidale’s economy has largely been based around agriculture and education, but with important contributions from other industries.
Potential engine room job creating industries have started to establish themselves in the region over the past decade or so, with Controlled Environment Horticulture (glasshouses) and Renewable Energy projects starting to emerge.
However in order to attract further growth in these engine room industries, large scale investment in secure water supply is needed in order to take the brakes off Armidale’s growth potential and allow it to set itself on a growth path.
Hence Councils recent commitments to increasing the water storage capacity of Malpas dam, the purchase of Oakey Dam and the ongoing upgrading to our water pipe and treatment infrastructure is putting the region on a clear path to enable future growth in the area over the next 20 years.
Where did the job and population targets come from and are they realistic?
Over the past 20 years the Armidale region has added around 1500 people to it's population so that in 2021 there were nearly 30,000 people living in the LGA (0.2% growth per year).
Background studies commissioned by Council have shown that the aspirational target of 40,000 people by 2040 (growth rate of around 1.3% per year) is achievable if supported by investment in key infrastructure projects (namely water) which in turn will enable key engine room industries to increase their presence here (namely Controlled Environment Horticulture - glasshouses, and to a lesser degree Renewable Energy projects).
These industries have already established here to some degree because of our cool climate and our high solar and wind exposure. However the potential to further attract these industries will increase significantly if we invest in our water security.
Studies have shown that the additional water supply provided by upgrades to Malpas Dam and the acquisition of Oaky Dam will be able to to sustain a population of over 40,000 people and will be able to accommodate around 125ha of Controlled Environment Horticulture (greenhouses).
Should 125 ha of glasshouse be realised, this in turn will result in the generation of around 3,750 direct jobs and indirect jobs. This combined with the establishment of around 350 jobs associated with the Renewable Energy Zone will increase the number of jobs in the region to 4000.
Using a multiplier effect for direct and indirect jobs and how this may translate into additional population, studies have shown that with 4000 additional jobs in the region our our population will increase by 10,000 therefore reaching 40,000 people by 2040.
If we do grow, where will the growth be?
An initial analysis of land availability in the region and a comparison against the population projections has led Council to identify growth areas within the LGA.
The horticulture study commissioned by Council identified two key areas where it is most likely that new glasshouses will be located. These being directly to the east of Guyra and Armidale.
As this industry has been forecast to generate the majority of the new jobs in the region over the next 20 years, both Armidale and Guyra are expected to cater for the majority of the additional population generated by the new horticulture areas.
Whilst Armidale is expected to grow beyond it's current footprint as a result of the expected increase in population (around 8,000 people), Guyra has been shown to be able to accommodate an expected increase in population (around 1,800 people) within the existing urban footprint by way of infill development.
The villages are also anticipated to grow to some degree, however their ability to absorb significant additional population is somewhat limited. Regardless each village has the potential to host additional population, and some growth areas have been identified within each village to allow for this to occur alongside the natural infill development that occurs in these villages from time to time.