Proposed Amendment to limit retail floor space to 1000m.sq.
The Situation The Council has adopted a Development Control Plan (DCP) which limits future retail floor space of any single shop to 1,000m2. This resolution is in line with Council’s “vision” for Merimbula retaining its seaside village character and thus maintaining and to further developing our vital tourism industry.
The State government has now approved the exhibition of a complimentary amendment to the Local Environment Plan (LEP) to also reflect that 1,000 m2 limit. The LEP is the over riding document which is non challengeable in the courts.
The LEP is the major planning document which is periodically amended and fully reviewed every 5 to 7 years. The proposed amendment will enable Merimbula to develop in a more boutique pedestrian friendly style, providing a town centre that is conducive to tourism and attractive for all the shires residents. It will also afford some short and medium term relief to the traffic and parking issues that currently prevail in Merimbula. In the longer term, once these issues are resolved, it may be that this limit could be removed if the community & the council so wished with state government approval.
This LEP amendment is critically important and your support is vital. The state government will only approve this if there is strong community support!
Bega Valley Shire Council Review
Click the document links below to open a PDF or .doc version of the BVSC Review
