Readers may not be aware that new laws relating to swimming pool safety come into force from 29 April 2014. From this date, all properties with a swimming pool or spa pool that are sold or leased must have a valid swimming pool Certificate of Compliance (or an appropriate Occupation Certificate issued within the last three years). (more…)
The QPR Blog
…local government stuff you never even thought to ask about…
Building Approvals
I had a call recently, asking if I could help resolve a problem associated with the issue of an Occupation Certificate for a new home. Councils are often criticised for bureaucratic intransigence in planning matters, but this is a good example of regulations that exist to protect potential owners. (more…)
PLEP Environmental Controls
Heritage Matters
With the interest in ‘heritage’ buildings in Bungendore at the moment, I thought it might be of interest to provide a brief overview of some of the whys and wherefores of heritage listing. (more…)
Planning Reform
As if battling through the gestation of the new Palerang Local Environmental Plan (PLEP) hasn’t been difficult enough, we are also in the throes of major planning reform that will see a significant restructure of NSW and local government planning instruments. We’ll just see the new PLEP take effect and it’ll be all change again. (more…)
In the Zone
There has been an ongoing debate in one sector of the Palerang rural residential community over whether or not the proposed E4 (Environmental Living) zoning in the Palerang Local Environmental Plan is appropriate, the alternative being the R5 (Large Lot Residential) zone. You can read more about specific issues in other posts (Rural Residential Zoning Objectives, Much Ado About Nothing, Lost in Translation, PLEP Land Use Zones). All manner of hypothetical arguments have been presented, but they all skirt the real issue. So let’s cut to the chase. (more…)
Development Approvals
From time to time, councillors are contacted by residents with problems associated with development approvals. The enquiries generally fall into two categories: the determination of a DA seems to be taking a long time, or the Conditions of Consent accompanying a [successful] DA determination appear to be overly demanding. (more…)
Rural Residential Zoning Objectives
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. (more…)
Lost in Translation
Creating the new PLEP has been a challenge for several reasons, not least of which is the fact that the new legislation is based on a standardised template, the so-called Standard Instrument, which underpins all new NSW LEPs. The main problem with the Standard Instrument, in the present context, is that it introduces a completely new dictionary of land use and land use zone names that have a limited relationship to existing land use or zone names. (more…)
Rural Subdivision
From time to time, I am approached by residents in rural residential areas who would like to subdivide their property. They are usually older residents who see this as an opportunity to raise a bit of extra capital, and at the same time reduce the size of the property they have to maintain. The properties in question are usually around 4-12 ha (10-30 acres) in size. (more…)