|
The Northern Rivers Regional Strategy (NRRS) is
the first attempt in Australia for a partnership
of regional interests to proactively develop its
own strategy. The strategy brings land use planning,
economic development, social and environmental management
issues together in a single plan.
The strategy is underpinned by ecologically
sustainable development (ESD), so future growth
and development maintains the natural advantages
and lifestyle of the region.
A Strategy for which region?
The Northern
Rivers ( link to Map) is a region that covers
20,896 square kilometres with a population of 250,000
people living in the ten local government areas
of Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond
Valley, Maclean, Copmanhurst, Grafton and Pristine
Waters. The area includes Australia's most easterly
point, Cape Byron as well as diverse communities
and lifestyles. It extends from Grafton in the south
to Tweed Heads in the north and west to the Great
Dividing Range. Planning in the region is based
upon the river catchments of the Clarence, Richmond
and Tweed/Brunswick Rivers.
Why produce yet another plan?
For the Northern Rivers to be able prosper, reduce
unemployment and enhance quality of life, a single
plan that covers the whole region is needed, to:
• establish a consistent united approach to
key issues and problems;
• reinforce the identity of the Northern Rivers;
and
• provide a tool to direct and control future
growth and development in a manner that is supported
in the region.
What key outcomes
does the Strategy aim to achieve?
In the short term …
• provide predictability in development
approval processes.
• demonstrate how the people of our
region want to influence their future, and
the future of their children, in the face
of constant change and huge pressures.
• a tool to provide our region with
greater control over it’s future.
• a consistent, united approach to tackling
critical problems.
• a platform for enterprise development,
employment creation, and greater prosperity
for all the region.
• a guide to best practice environmental
management.
• embrace the diversity of our region
in all aspects of planning.
• assemble a collection of regional
views into a vision for our whole region.
In the longer term …
• a path forward that our region wholeheartedly
supports.
• ensuring that State Government budgets
will address our region’s needs and
priorities.
• enhance and strengthen our region’s
economic, social and natural capital.
• enhanced quality of life, social harmony
and community well being. |
The Strategy is the basis of a new form
of regional planning – where is it going?
• It is the foundation for a new, more relevant
and genuinely comprehensive Regional Environmental
Plan to be prepared under planFIRST.
• The Strategy serves as a model for the rest
of the NSW as PlanningNSW
revises the statutory plan-making processes (planFIRST).
• Providing a mechanism to position the Northern
Rivers as a thriving enterprise – as a leader
in regional NSW.
• Creating a robust identity for our region
based on who we are and not how others perceive
us.
• Creating strong, viable and healthy communities.
|
