The QPR Blog

There has been a degree of confusion in some quarters relating to the derivation of the objectives of the new rural residential zones, the R5 Large Lot Residential and E4 Environmental Living land use zones.

At present, in the former Yarrowlumla area, both are covered by the existing 1(d) Rural Residential zone. The new Standard Instrument LEP template did not provide a Rural Residential zone, as such. Rather it provided two alternatives, that served slightly different purposes. The R5 zone is largely intended for use adjacent to urban areas, providing objectives to ensure that development in the zone does not constrain urban expansion. The E4 zone, on the other hand, is intended for use in more rural areas, providing objectives that ensure that residential development does not dominate the existing rural environment.

To help to understand the origin of the E4 zone objectives, and the preference for the use of this zone in the current rural residential areas, the objectives of the YLEP 1(d), and PLEP E4 and R5 zones are presented below. The change in wording in the new SI LEP is largely to reduce the number of objectives, and to provide a degree of consistency with the language of the Standard Instrument LEP. The YLEP 1(d) zone objectives that were particularly relevant in selecting the E4 zone over the R5 zone are marked in green.

Part 2, Paragraph 10 of the YLEP 2002

(2)  Zone No 1(d)  (Rural Residential Zone)

The objectives of this zone are as follows:

1. to provide the opportunity for development of integrated rural residential communities,
2. to promote an innovative and flexible approach to rural residential development,
3. to ensure that development is compatible with the environmental capabilities of the land and to encourage the conservation and enhancement of natural resources by means of appropriate land management techniques,
4. to assist in meeting the demand for rural residential development where it is consistent with the conservation of rural, agricultural, heritage and natural landscape qualities,
5. to ensure that attractive views from main roads and other vantage points are protected and enhanced,
6. to ensure that adequate provision has been made for water supply and disposal of effluent,
7. to ensure that development does not create unreasonable demands, now or in the future, for the provision or extension of public amenities or services,
8. to ensure that traffic-generating development is suitably located so as not to adversely affect the safety and efficiency of roads,
9. to ensure that development will not lead to excessive soil erosion or run-off,
10. to ensure that the form, siting and colours of buildings, building materials and landscaping complement the natural scenic quality of land within this zone,
11. to ensure that any effect development will have on threatened plant and animal species or regionally significant grassland and grassy woodland communities is taken into account,
12. to ensure that sites of Aboriginal archaeological significance in the zone are identified and protected.

Part 2 of the draft PLEP 2012

Zone R5    Large Lot Residential

Objectives of zone

• To provide residential housing in a rural setting while preserving, and minimising impacts on, environmentally sensitive locations and scenic quality
• To ensure that large residential lots do not hinder the proper and orderly development of urban areas in the future
• To ensure that development in the area does not unreasonably increase the demand for public services or public facilities
• To minimise conflict between land uses within this zone and land uses within adjoining zones
• To minimise the impact of any development on the natural environment

Zone E4    Environmental Living

Objectives of zone

• To provide for low-impact residential development in areas with special ecological, scientific or aesthetic values
• To ensure that residential development does not have an adverse effect on those values
• To encourage the retention of the remaining evidence of significant historic and social values expressed in existing landscape and land use patterns
• To encourage development that is visually compatible with the landscape
• To minimise the impact of any development on the natural environment
• To ensure that development does not unreasonably increase the demand for
  public services or public facilities
• To minimise conflict between land uses within the zone and land uses within
  adjoining zones