An Urban Interface Area Model

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• An Urban Interface Area Model
• Integrating sustainability into a planning
  instrument.
• Wyong Shire Council 1.5hrs north of Sydney
• Approximately 800 km2 population of 140,000
• Bushland, beaches, lakes and rapid growth
• Council manages 4500ha bushland
• David Lemcke david.lemcke_at_wyong.nsw.gov.au
• [phone]

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Four Main Issues to Integrate

• Edge effects (environmental impacts weeds,
  nutrients, sediments, wind, light etc)
• Bushfire protection
• Stormwater management (WSUD)
• Access (recreational, fire fighting, maintenance)
• Ongoing development issues and multiple competing
  legislative requirements
• Finally brought to a head by appeal in LEC 2006
• Issues inter-relate and need coordinated
  management quadruple bottom-line approach
• Social (amenity, access, change, safety etc)
• Economic (multipurpose, ease of maintenance,
  integrate disparate programs, wasted developer
  land)

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Why come up with a model?E.g. nursing home at
Toukley, NSW
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URBAN INTERFACE AREA (UIA) MODEL

• Development control to integrate issues
• A multi-purpose corridor interfacing development
  and bushland
• 3 essential parts
• access
• WSUD
• Retained vegetation

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Project approach

• Developed in-house by planner and ecologist with
  significant engineer input avoid silos /
  current practice (early 2007)
• Distributed widely through professional networks
  and comment sought (mid 2007)
• Amended model written up as DCP control
• Inserted into reviewed Subdivision DCP and
  adopted by Council (Nov 2007)
• Will be inserted into other chapters
  industrial, medium-density etc
• Funded via Policy Unit work program (staff costs
  only)

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Wyong DCP 2005 extract
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What has changed?

• Limited built impact to date given development
  industry downturn
• Generally positive response from industry
  manages multiple legislation
• Model being considered for retrofitting (Bushfire
  RMP)
• Grant funding being sought for pilot projects
• Council can combine diverse programs / funding
  e.g.
• Bushfire Risk Management Plan
• Cycleway Strategy
• Estuary Management Plan implementation
• Plans of Management
• Likely to assist new integrated planning and
  reporting requirements of DLG and future
  budgeting
• Ongoing cost-effective maintenance through good
  design
• Costs shared developer provides land and builds
  - Council maintains possible VPA or S.94 credits
  / amendments

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Lessons learnt?

• Sustainability needs to be considered across
  disciplines must have diverse project teams
• Ongoing costs must be considered as well as
  construction costs asset handover procedures,
  budgeting etc
• Need to develop Cost-Benefit or TBL evaluation to
  demonstrate savings over time including risk
  management, maintenance, environmental
  improvements, access etc
• Current budgeting models and funding programs
  appear to favour individual issues/projects
  rather than synthesis issues/projects
• Councils need to develop incentives to encourage
  and reward ESD e.g. increased yield, S.94
  credits, VPA framework, awards etc
• Enables both development and environmental
  protection not a choice between these

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Questions ?(AV Jennings subdivision Wadalba,
NSW)