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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 20 May 2008 PLANNING LAWS TO PROTECT MAJOR NSW PORTS The three major ports - Newcastle, Botany and Port Kembla – are proposed to be identified as State Significant Sites to recognise their economic importance and provide greater consistency of operation.
Planning Minister Frank Sartor said the proposed State Significant Site (SSS) listings detail projects on the three port sites that would automatically come to the Government for assessment under the State’s major projects legislation.
Mr Sartor today announced the SSS proposal would go on public exhibition from 28 May until 27 June.
“These three major ports contribute significantly to the State’s economy,” Mr Sartor said.
“They are a crucial provider of jobs and income directly through port related activities, as well as indirectly through the flow on benefits created by the goods that are imported and exported.
“This proposal is recognition of the importance of port employment and industrial lands more generally to the State.”
Mr Sartor said the SSS status would protect the ports, and industries reliant on access to port infrastructure, from incompatible land uses that may limit their operations.
“The SSS provisions consolidate the existing zonings and also identify the importance of associated industrial land and key transport corridors for the ongoing operation of the ports,” he said.
“Additional commercial uses are also being proposed along certain boundaries of the industrial zone in both Newcastle and Botany to provide an appropriate buffer to separate existing residential areas from port industry zoned land.
“These provisions will provide important potential for increased jobs creation, assisting local councils to meet their own employment targets.”
The proposal was prepared in consultation with the relevant local councils, port corporations and NSW Maritime.
The SSS provisions will specify the approvals regime for the three ports and provide greater consistency.
Under the proposed SSS listing, the following activities on the three port sites would automatically come to the State Government for assessment:
• Shipping berths or terminals on wharf-side facilities (and related infrastructure) with a capital investment value (CIV) of more than $30 million. • Chemical/petroleum plants or storage with a CIV of more than $20m. • Other industry with a CIV of more than $30 million. • Freight terminals with a CIV of more than $30 million. • Potentially hazardous manufacturing/handling facilities. • Potentially hazardous waste facilities.
The following public infrastructure works on the sites would also come to the Government for assessment if they are likely to significantly affect the environment:
• Wharf, road and rail projects; • Utilities; and • Dredging by a public authority.
Other proposals for port facilities on port corporation-owned land would be assessed by the port corporation itself, while the relevant local council would remain the consent authority for port facilities and other relevant projects on privately-owned land within the sites.
Minister for Ports and Waterways Joe Tripodi said identifying the three ports as State Significant Sites would provide certainty for industry located around NSW ports.
“By planning ahead we will prevent the potential conflict between industry and lifestyle in the future,” Mr Tripodi said.
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