FAQs

Development Control Plans (DCPs) provide detailed planning and design guidelines that support the planning controls contained within a Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

Development proposals are required to meet the objectives and requirements of relevant DCP controls.

The current Coffs Harbour Development Control Plan 2015 is available here(External link).

The NSW Government’s flood-prone land package commenced on 14 July 2021. This package included the introduction of a mandated clause (5.21 Flood planning) and an optional clause (5.22 Special flood considerations) under the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006. The proposed DCP amendment aligns with the two new flood planning clauses within Coffs Harbour LEP 2013,  the updated Floodplain Risk Management Manual 2023, which was gazetted in June 2023, and addresses recommendations within floodplain risk management plans endorsed by Council for Coffs Creek, Middle Creek, Woolgoolga, Boambee and Newports Creek.

The proposed DCP amendment will provide clearer and more descriptive requirements for proponents of development to meet the objectives of the flood planning clauses within Coffs Harbour LEP 2013. This will assist applicants and reduce delays in the assessment process for development applications within the flood planning area.

The draft DCP amendment includes changes to existing controls and updated objectives within Part E4 - Flooding.

Updates to relevant Definitions within Part A6 have also been made.

The DCP amendment relate to land within the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area that is mapped within the Flood Planning Area or the Indicate Flood Planning Area. 

Part E4.6 - Flood Planning requirements - Essential Facilities and Part E4.5 - Flood planning requirements - Vulnerable and Hazardous Facilities also relate to land within the Special Flood Considerations Area

The Special Flood Considerations Area is the land between the Flood Planning Area and the Probable Maximum Flood Level. It has been derived from the Probable Maximum Flood mapping previously endorsed by Council through individual catchment flood studies and floodplain risk management studies.

The NSW Government’s flood-prone land package commenced on 14 July 2021. This package included the introduction of a mandated clause (5.21 Flood planning) and an optional clause (5.22 Special flood considerations) under the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006, which Council has resolved to opt-into.

The special flood considerations clause applies to:  

• sensitive and hazardous development, such as caravan parks, hospitals and seniors housing, between the flood planning area and the probable maximum flood level 
• development that is not sensitive or hazardous on land that the consent authority considers that, in a flood, may pose a particular risk to life and where people may need to evacuate or there are other safety concerns.