STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICY RECOGNISES GOULBURN AS A CITY

Goulburn Mulwaree Local Environmental Plan (Transport and Infrastructure) (Map Amendment No 1) under the Environmental Planning and assessment Act 1979 has been endorsed by NSW Minister for Planning the Hon. Anthony Roberts.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman welcomed the publication of the act on December 16.

“Recognition as a city provides additional development assessment considerations for large scale renewable energy generation and storage projects – an enormous challenge being faced by our community right now,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“Goulburn is rapidly growing, and Council has done the right thing in planning for growth but the potential for large scale solar energy projects to impact Goulburn is significant due to our close proximity to the major transmission easements.

“Inclusion in the SEPP provides the strongest level of planning consideration available,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

Goulburn Mulwaree Council Mayor Peter Walker said the decision not only recognises Goulburn’s growing status as part of regional NSW, it also supports the City’s Urban and Fringe Housing Strategy.

“Importantly, Goulburn’s inclusion does not rule out the possibility of state-or regional-scale solar or wind farm developments within our local government area – although it requires their location to be in areas that do not conflict significantly with existing residential or commercial land uses.

“While Council does not oppose true renewable energy projects such as solar and wind energy, it is important though that these projects be in areas where they will have a minimal impact on our residents, their livelihoods, and their lifestyles,” Clr Walker said.