Delivering the Plan

The Central West and Orana Regional Plan 2036 is the NSW Government’s strategy for guiding land use planning decisions for the Central West and Orana region for the next 20 years.

The Central West and Orana region consists of 19 local government areas: Bathurst Regional, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Coonamble, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Forbes, Gilgandra, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western Regional, Narromine, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Warren, Warrumbungle and Weddin.

The Regional Plan sets out four goals for the Central West and Orana region:

The most diverse regional economy in NSW
A stronger, healthier environment and diverse heritage
Quality freight, transport and infrastructure networks
Dynamic, vibrant and healthy communities.

The NSW Government has established new governance arrangements to oversee the implementation of the vision, goals and actions in the Regional Plan and the release of an Annual Monitoring Report.

Purpose

Responsibility for implementing actions and monitoring the intended outcomes in the Regional Plan is shared with our important regional stakeholders, including Councils, other State agencies, service providers and the development industry. All stakeholders need to have a good understanding of the priorities and the deliverables.

The purpose of this Implementation Plan is to:

ensure ongoing collaboration and agreement on the implementation of actions;
assign accountabilities for the implementation of actions;
explain the role of different groups and committees involved in implementation;
guide the Central West and Orana Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee in its role of overseeing delivery of the Regional Plan; and
inform the Annual Monitoring Report.

Implementation

Goals, directions and actions

The Regional Plan comprises four goals, 29 directions and 126 actions. The goals articulate the intended outcome; the directions identify the broad issues or policy areas that we need to focus on and the actions represent the steps we need to take or initiatives we need to introduce/implement to achieve the goals. Actions are either implemented as strategies or as initiatives.

The NSW Government has identified a lead agency and relevant partner stakeholders for each action. The lead agency is responsible for project managing the various tasks required to ensure success. Key stakeholders are those agencies, councils or organisations considered important partners for implementation. The list of partners is not exclusive and additional stakeholders may be identified as implementation progresses.

Indicative timings for actions are as follows:

Immediate – 0-2 years;
Short term – 3-5 years;
Medium term – 5-10 years; and
Long term – 10+ years.

Some actions are also designated as ‘ongoing’ to reflect their delivery being achieved through Local Environmental Plans, local planning strategies and other land use planning that are required to be consistent with the Regional Plan.

Each action in the Regional Plan will be implemented through a mix of mechanisms that reflect a range of ongoing strategies and catalyst initiatives that will deliver on the vision and directions in the Plan, including:

Strategies:

Local planning directions issued under Section 9.1 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 by the Minister for Planning that ensure council planning strategies and controls are consistent with the Regional Plan;
Integrated planning and reporting under the Local Government Act 1993
Whole-of government policy alignment.

Progress on delivering these actions will be reviewed as part of any review or adjustment to the Regional Plan.

Catalyst initiatives:

Matters that require a partnership between Council and the NSW Government;
Publication of reports or data; and
Regional collaboration across government, business, key stakeholders and the wider community for specific projects and processes.

Priority actions for 2017-2019

Priorities for the Central West and Orana are growing and diversifying the economy, protecting environmental assets, providing efficient transport and infrastructure networks, and developing strong, resilient and connected communities. Actions to support these outcomes represent the immediate areas of focus.

10 priority actions have been identified for implementation in 2017–2019. These actions respond to strong representations made in feedback to the draft Regional Plan or are areas where initial investigations or planning are required. These priorities will be overseen by the Central West and Orana Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee and will require a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, councils and stakeholders.

Release a Regional Agricultural Development Strategy that:
- maps important agricultural land;
- identifies emerging opportunities for agriculture; and
- sets direction for local planning of agricultural development
Encourage agribusiness diversification and value-adding opportunities by reviewing local plans to ensure zonings and land use definitions reflect industry requirements.
Develop a food and fibre strategy for the Central West, reflecting the opportunities identified in Regional Development Australia Central West’s Value Adding to Agriculture in Central West NSW study.
Align local land use and tourism strategies with a Destination Management Plan for the Country and Outback NSW Destination Network.
Conduct a pilot study with Central NSW Councils (CENTROC) to investigate practical on-ground mechanisms that will help to avoid land use conflict between intensive agricultural uses and other sensitive uses.
Establish health precincts around hospitals in regional cities and strategic centres.
Work with the Central NSW Councils (CENTROC) to scope barriers to the adaptive reuse of heritage items.
Build on existing work to identify the regional freight network (including key national, state, regional and local roads and the rail network).
Produce guidelines to help councils plan and manage seasonal and itinerant worker accommodation.
Develop regional urban design guidelines for planning, designing and developing healthy built environments.

Governance

Effective governance arrangements are critical to successful delivery.

Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee

The Central West and Orana Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee has been established to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Regional Plan and brings together the agencies and organisations responsible for delivering the majority of the proposed outcomes under the Regional Plan. The focus of the Committee is implementation of the Regional Plan.

Representation on this Committee is about engaging relevant and operations-focused people from agencies and organisations responsible for delivering the majority of proposed outcomes under the Regional Plan.

The role of the Committee is to:

oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Regional Plan;
provide accountability for delivery of the Regional Plan;
be kept informed of general progress and participate in delivery of priority actions;
monitor and track the progress of implementation the Regional Plan;
where impediments are identified, collaborate for resolution;
provide a forum to discuss and resolve implementation issues or action delivery in a changing regional policy environment;
provide high-level progress updates to the Central West and Orana Regional Leadership Executive (via the Department of Premier and Cabinet);
inform the preparation of the Annual Monitoring Report; and
inform and participate in a five-year review of the Regional Plan.

Committee membership includes:

Department of Planning and Environment
Joint Organisations of Councils
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Department of Industry
Transport for NSW

Supporting Groups

The Central West and Orana Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee can be supported by outcome-specific groups that bring together appropriate personnel (government, industry or community) to provide advice on particular issues or projects.

Existing governance framework

It is important to recognise the existing broader governance framework in operation within the region to ensure the Central West and Orana Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee complements current activity.

The Central West and Orana Regional Leadership Executive (RLE), which is a Department of Premier and Cabinet led initiative, is a body that supports close working relationships between NSW Government agencies and the Joint Organisation of Councils. The network encourages strategic collaboration, consultation, solution brokerage and engagement on regional priorities across government.

The Committee benefits from having access to the same agency and local government organisations that comprise the Regional Leadership Executive. This is particularly important where the NSW Government ‘Fit for the Future’ reforms are changing the way Government works with councils on local priorities.

Links to other strategies

The NSW Government has in place, or is developing, a number of other strategies that will influence the implementation of the Regional Plan, including the Central West Regional Transport Plan, Newell Highway Corridor Strategy and Golden Highway Corridor Strategy.

The Central West and Orana Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee will have a role in ensuring that there is appropriate coordination across the implementation of these strategies. This applies particularly to those strategies that address housing, growth and infrastructure. It is anticipated that these strategies will complement the focus on growth in the Regional Plan.

It is also important there is strong links with Community Strategic Plans proposed by Councils and that set out key strategic priorities identified by local communities over 10 years.

Regional Governance Framework

Review mechanisms

Annual Monitoring Report

An Annual Monitoring Report will be prepared to monitor progress on implementation of the Regional Plan. This will report progress on goals, directions and actions, with a particular focus on the priorities that have been agreed with the Central West and Orana Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee. It will also list achievements and important regional highlights from the year.

Implementation priorities will be revised and a new program for work will be identified for each subsequent year.

Regional Plan Review

The Regional Plan will be subject to a five-yearly review, or as necessary, to update and revise the strategies provided through the goals, directions and actions. A five-yearly review will revisit regional performance, challenges and opportunities and incorporate the most up-to-date information provided through the census process. The review of the Regional Plan will be informed by the Central West and Orana Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee as well as the Annual Monitoring Reports.

Implementation Plan

The priorities identified in this Implementation Plan will be updated on an annual basis as part of the Annual Monitoring Report and will form the work program for each subsequent year. This will ensure that implementation of the Regional Plan remains current and responsive to regional conditions.

Central West and Orana Regional Plan Actions

Direction 1: Protect the region’s diverse and productive agricultural land

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
1.1 Release a regional agricultural development strategy that: maps important agricultural land; identifies emerging opportunities for agriculture; and sets the direction for local planning of agricultural development.	DPE	DOI	Immediate initiative
1.2 Protect important agricultural land from land use conflict and fragmentation, and manage the interface between important agricultural lands and other land uses.	Council	DPE, DOI	Ongoing strategy
1.3 Implement the NSW Government’s Agriculture Industry Action Plan – Primed for growth: Investing locally, connecting globally.	Council	DOI, DPE	Short term initiative
1.4 Undertake biosecurity risk assessments, taking into account biosecurity plans and the need for appropriate buffer areas.	Council	DOI	Ongoing strategy

¹ Responsibility: Indicates who leads the investigation, assessment and decision-making for land use planning.
²Partner: Indicates who supports the lead and takes an active role in land use planning.
³Timing: immediate: 0–2 years, short term: 3–5 years, medium term: 5–10 years, long term: 10+ years, ongoing – strategies.
AANSW: NSW Aboriginal Affairs; Council: Includes all Councils in the Central West and Orana Region and the Regional Organisation of Councils; DCO NSW: Destination Country & Outback NSW; DRG: Division of Resources and Geoscience; DPC: Department of Premier and Cabinet; DOI: Department of Industry; DPE: Department of Planning and Environment; Education: Department of Education; Health: Health NSW; EPA: Environment Protection Authority; FACS: Department of Family and Community Services; LALC: Local Aboriginal Land Council; OEH: Office of Environment and Heritage; OGA: Office of the Government Architect, OLG: Office of Local Government; RDACW: Regional Development Australia Central West; RFS: Rural Fire Services; TfNSW: Transport for NSW.

Direction 2: Grow the agribusiness sector and supply chains

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
2.1 Encourage agribusiness diversification and value-adding opportunities by reviewing local plans to ensure land use zonings and definitions reflect industry requirements.	DPE	DOI, Council	Immediate initiative
2.2 Guide local and strategic planning to protect agricultural land, and manage the interface with other land uses.	DPE	DOI, Council	Immediate initiative
2.3 Facilitate investment in the agricultural supply chain by protecting assets such as freight and logistics facilities from land use conflict and the encroachment of incompatible land uses.	Council	DOI, DPE	Ongoing strategy

Direction 3: Develop advanced manufacturing and food processing sectors

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
3.1 Promote investment in advanced and value-added manufacturing in employment lands through suitable land use zonings and land use definitions in local environmental plans.	DPE	Council	Immediate initiative
3.2 Locate advanced and value-added manufacturing industries and associated infrastructure to minimise potential land use conflict.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
3.3 Encourage co-location of related advanced and value-added manufacturing industries to maximise efficiency and infrastructure use, decrease supply chain costs, increase economies of scale and attract further investment.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
3.4 Develop a food and fibre strategy for the Central West, reflecting the opportunities identified in Regional Development Australia Central West’s Value Adding to Agriculture in Central West NSW study.	DOI	Council, RDACW, DPE	Immediate initiative

Direction 4: Promote and diversify regional tourism markets

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
4.1 Align local land use and tourism strategies with a Destination Management Plan for the Country and Outback NSW Destination Network.	Council	DPE, DCO NSW	Immediate initiative
4.2 Work with councils to improve tourism-related transport services.	TfNSW	Council	Ongoing strategy
4.3 Develop the region’s capacity to grow food and wine tourism.	Council	DPE, DNSW,DCO NSW, DOI	Ongoing strategy
4.4 Enable opportunities appropriate for tourism development and associated land uses in local environmental plans.	Council	DPE, DCO NSW	Ongoing strategy
4.5 Target experiential tourism opportunities and develop tourism management frameworks to promote a variety of accommodation options.	Council	DPE, DNSW, DCO NSW	Ongoing strategy
4.6 Encourage tourism development in natural areas that support conservation outcomes.	Council	DPE, DNSW, DCO NSW, DOI	Ongoing strategy

Direction 5: Improve access to health and aged care services

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
5.1 Establish health precincts around hospitals in regional cities and strategic centres.	Council	DPE, Health	Immediate initiative
5.2 Promote mixed-use facilities and research; and accommodation precincts for the health and aged care service sectors.	Council	DPE, Health	Ongoing strategy
5.3 Facilitate the development of multipurpose, flexible and adaptable health and education infrastructure.	Council	DPE, Health	Ongoing strategy
5.4 Minimise the encroachment of inappropriate and incompatible land uses near existing and proposed health facilities.	Council	DPE, Health	Ongoing strategy

Direction 6: Expand education and training opportunities

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
6.1 Work with stakeholders and the region’s education providers to identify opportunities to address skills shortages through tailored regional training programs.	DOI	Council, Education	Medium Term Initiative
6.2 Promote the development of education precincts around universities and other educational facilities to allow people to specialise in rural studies and to cater for international students.	Council	DPE, Education	Ongoing strategy
6.3 Facilitate joint-venture opportunities for shared community and school facilities on school sites, including sporting fields, amenities, parking, community halls, child care, arts and library facilities.	Education	Council	Medium Term Initiative

Direction 7: Enhance the economic self-determination of Aboriginal communities

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
7.1 Work with the Local Aboriginal Land Councils on strategic assessments of their landholdings to identify priority sites with economic development potential.	DPE	LALC, AANSW, Council	Immediate initiative
7.2 Identify priority sites that can create a pipeline of potential projects that the Local Aboriginal Land Councils may wish to consider.	DPE	LALC, AANSW, Council	Short term initiative

Direction 8: Sustainably manage mineral resources

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
8.1 Consult with the Division of Resources and Geosciences when assessing applications for land use changes (strategic land use planning, rezoning and planning proposals) and new development or expansions.	Council	DRG, DPE	Ongoing strategy
8.2 Protect areas with potential for mineral and energy resources extraction through local land use strategies and local environmental plans.	Council	DRG, DPE	Ongoing strategy
8.3 Protect infrastructure that facilitates mining from development that could affect current or future extraction.	Council	DRG, DPE, TfNSW	Ongoing strategy
8.4 Support communities that transition out of mining to manage change in population and demand for services, and explore new economic opportunities.	DPC (Mining Taskforce)	DOI, DPE, Council	Short term initiative
8.5 Work with councils to scope the application and implementation of a scenario planning or impact modelling tool to be applied at a regional level to help communities plan for the impacts of mining.	DPC	DOI, DPE, Council	Short term initiative

Direction 9: Increase renewable energy generation

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
9.1 Identify locations with renewable energy generation potential and access to the electricity network.	DPE	Council, DOI	Short term initiative
9.2 Facilitate small-scale renewable energy projects using bioenergy, solar, wind, small-scale hydro, geothermal or other innovative storage technologies through local environment plans.	Council	DOI, OEH	Ongoing strategy
9.3 Promote best practice community engagement and maximise community benefits from all utility-scale renewable energy projects.	DPE	Council, OEH, DOI	Ongoing strategy

Direction 10: Promote business and industrial activities in employment lands

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
10.1 Encourage the sustainable development of industrial and employment land to maximise infrastructure and connect to the existing freight network.	Council	TfNSW, DPE	Ongoing strategy
10.2 Use local environmental plans to promote the development of specialised industry clusters and the colocation of related industries.	Council	DPE, DOI	Ongoing strategy
10.3 Encourage the consolidation of isolated, unused or underused pockets of industrial land to create long-term development opportunities.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
10.4 Identify industrial and employment land opportunities and reduce land use conflicts through local land use strategies.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
10.5 Monitor the supply and demand of industrial land in strategic centres to inform the planning and coordination of utility infrastructure to support new development.	DPE	Council, Infrastructure providers	Medium term initiative
10.6 Accommodate future commercial and retail activity in existing commercial centres, unless there is a demonstrated need or social and economic benefits to locate this activity elsewhere.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
10.7 Require proposals for new retail development to demonstrate how they: respond to retail demand; respond to innovations in the retail sector; maximise public transport and community infrastructure commensurate with the scale of the proposal; and enhance the quality of public areas.	Council	DPE, TfNSW	Ongoing strategy

Direction 11: Sustainably manage water resources for economic opportunities

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
11.1 Implement the Murray–Darling Basin Plan to ensure a balance of social, economic and environmental outcomes.	DOI	Council, DPE, OEH	Immediate initiative
11.2 Finalise water resource plans and long-term watering plans for surface water and groundwater systems in accordance with the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.	DOI	Council, DPE, OEH	Short term initiative
11.3 Plan for high-water use industries in locations with water access and security.	Council	DOI, DPE	Ongoing strategy
11.4 Enhance the productive capacity of land in the Namoi, Macquarie and Lachlan irrigation areas by limiting encroachment of inappropriate and incompatible land uses.	Council	DOI, DPE	Ongoing strategy
11.5 Provide guidance for development in areas of groundwater vulnerability.	DOI	Council, DPE	Short term initiative

Direction 12: Plan for greater land use compatibility

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
12.1 Conduct a pilot study with Central NSW Councils (CENTROC) to investigate practical on-ground mechanisms to help to avoid land use conflict between intensive agricultural uses and other sensitive uses.	DOI	DPE, Council	Immediate initiative
12.2 Identify and protect important agricultural land in local plans.	Council	DOI, Council	Ongoing strategy
12.3 Create local strategies to limit urban and rural housing development in agricultural and extractive resource areas, industrial areas and transport corridors.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
12.4 Amend planning controls to deliver greater certainty of land use.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
12.5 Provide non-statutory guidance on appropriate and sympathetic land use in areas where land use conflicts occur.	DPE	Council	Short term initiative

Direction 13: Protect and manage environmental assets

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
13.1 Protect high environmental value assets through local environmental plans.	Council	DPE, OEH	Ongoing strategy
13.2 Minimise potential impacts arising from development in areas of high environmental value, and consider offsets or other mitigation mechanisms for unavoidable impacts.	Council	DPE, OEH	Ongoing strategy
13.3 Improve the quality of, and access to, information relating to high environmental value.	OEH	DPE, Council	Short term initiative
13.4 Develop a Biodiversity Conservation Investment Strategy to identify priority investment areas and principles for investment.	OEH	DPE, Council	Medium term initiative
13.5 Recognise, plan and consider the production, cultural heritage, recreation and ecological conservation values of Travelling Stock Reserves in local land use strategies.	DOI	DPE, Council	Ongoing strategy

Direction 14: Manage and conserve water resources for the environment

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
14.1 Adopt an integrated approach to water cycle management across the region that considers climate change, water security, sustainable demand and growth, and the natural environment.	Council	DOI	Ongoing strategy
14.2 Locate, design, construct and manage new development to minimise impacts on water catchments, including downstream areas and groundwater sources.	Council	DOI	Ongoing strategy
14.3 Minimise the impacts of development on fish habitat, aquaculture, commercialised and recreational fishing, and waterways (including watercourses, wetlands and riparian lands) and meet the Water Quality and River Flow Objectives.	Council	DOI	Ongoing strategy
14.4 Collaborate with industry and other catchment stakeholders to clarify changes to the supply and management of water for users and the environment.	DOI	Council, DPE, OEH	Short term initiative
14.5 Plan for the effects of a changing climate on water availability and use for the environment, settlements, communities and industry.	Council	DPE, DOI, OEH	Ongoing strategy

Direction 15: Increase resilience to natural hazards and climate change

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
15.1 Locate developments, including new urban release areas, away from areas of known high biodiversity value; areas with high risk of bushfire or flooding; contaminated land; and designated waterways.	Council	DPE, OEH, RFS, EPA	Ongoing strategy
15.2 Incorporate the outcomes of the Enabling Regional Adaptation project to ensure future land use and planning decisions reduce regional climate change vulnerabilities.	Council	DPE, OEH	Ongoing strategy
15.3 Adopt a whole-of-government approach to information exchange on climate change adaptation and preparedness.	OEH	Council, DPE	Ongoing strategy
15.4 Respond to climate-related risks by applying and communicating fine-scale climate information to support decision-making.	OEH	Council	Ongoing strategy
15.5 Implement the requirements of the NSW Floodplain Development Manual by updating flood studies and floodplain risk management plans.	Council	OEH, DPE	Ongoing strategy
15.6 Incorporate the best available hazard information in local environmental plans consistent with current flood studies, flood planning levels, modelling and floodplain risk management plans.	Council	DPE, OEH	Ongoing strategy
15.7 Update and share current information on environmental assets and natural hazards with councils to inform planning decisions.	OEH	DPE, OEH, RFS, Council	Ongoing strategy
15.8 Manage the risks of disturbance in areas affected by naturally occurring asbestos by increasing public awareness and providing mapping to councils.	Council	OLG, EPA	Ongoing strategy

Direction 16: Respect and protect Aboriginal heritage assets

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
16.1 Protect, manage and respect Aboriginal objects and places in accordance with legislative requirements.	Council	OEH, DPE, AANSW, LALC	Ongoing strategy
16.2 Undertake Aboriginal cultural heritage assessments to inform local land use strategies and to identify any appropriate heritage management mechanism.	Council	OEH, AANSW, LALC, DPE	Ongoing strategy
16.3 Consult with Aboriginal people and the broader community during strategic planning to identify and protect heritage values; minimise the impact of urban growth and development; and recognise their contribution to the character and landscape of the region.	Council	OEH, AANSW, LALC, DPE	Ongoing strategy

Direction 17: Conserve and adaptively re-use heritage assets

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
17.1 Increase heritage protection and revitalise main streets and town centres through community education and development incentives in local plans.	Council	OEH, DPE	Ongoing strategy
17.2 Prepare, review and update heritage studies in consultation with the wider community to recognise and conserve heritage assets and items, and include appropriate local planning controls.	Council	OEH, DPE	Ongoing strategy
17.3 Work with the Central NSW Councils (CENTROC) to scope barriers to the adaptive reuse of heritage items.	OEH	Council, DPE	Immediate initiative

Direction 18: Improve freight connections to markets and global gateways

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
18.1 Enhance the operation of freight and logistics facilities by limiting the encroachment of incompatible and sensitive land uses in local environmental plans.	Council	DPE, TfNSW	Ongoing strategy
18.2 Strengthen and leverage inter-regional connections to support economic growth.	Council	DPE, TfNSW	Ongoing strategy
18.3 Enhance the efficiency of national transport corridors and protect them from inappropriate surrounding land uses.	Council	DPE, TfNSW	Ongoing strategy
18.4 Facilitate the ongoing performance of existing freight and logistics facilities, particularly those in regional cities and strategic centres.	Council	DPE, TfNSW	Ongoing strategy
18.5 Locate freight and logistics facilities to capitalise on connections to external markets, maximise the use of existing infrastructure and support future industrial development.	Council	DPE, TfNSW	Ongoing strategy
18.6 Work with stakeholders to upgrade transport network capacity as demand changes.	Council	DPE, TfNSW	Ongoing strategy
18.7 Work with the Australian Government and local councils as the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Corridor project progresses.	TfNSW	DPE, Council	Immediate initiative

Direction 19: Enhance road and rail freight links

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
19.1 Build on existing work to identify the regional freight network, including key national, State, regional and local road and the rail network.	Council	TfNSW, DPE	Immediate initiative
19.2 Prioritise projects that address impediments to the regional freight network.	TfNSW	Council	Short term initiative
19.3 Identify, coordinate and prioritise local and regional road projects that will strengthen the regional freight network.	Council	TfNSW, DPE	Short term initiative
19.4 Assess the viability of bypasses and identify and safeguard future bypass corridors in local land use strategies.	Council	TfNSW	Medium term initiative
19.5 Identify existing and proposed freight and transport corridors in local land use strategies to minimise the encroachment of incompatible land uses.	Council	TfNSW, DPE	Ongoing strategy

Direction 20: Enhance access to air travel and public transport

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
20.1 Identify development opportunities for appropriate and complementary land uses and limit the encroachment of incompatible development around Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Mudgee and Parkes airports.	Council	DPE, TfNSW	Ongoing strategy
20.2 Support the continued allocation of 20 percent of flight slots at Sydney Airport to regional NSW services and seek a greater allocation in peak periods.	TfNSW	DPE, DOI	Short term initiative
20.3 Work with local transport operators and community transport providers to investigate delivery models for flexible transport and determine what works best for different areas.	TfNSW	DPE	Short term initiative
20.4 Investigate opportunities and prepare strategies to improve transport links between the region’s towns and villages, and its regional cities and strategic centres.	TfNSW	DPE, Council	Ongoing strategy

Direction 21: Coordinate utility infrastructure investment

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
21.1 Work with Mid-Western Regional, Dubbo Regional, Parkes, Bogan and Warren councils to address water supply deficiencies and secure future town water supplies.	DOI	Council, DPE	Short term initiative
21.2 Work with stakeholders and infrastructure providers to investigate new funding models for utility infrastructure.	DOI	Council, DPE, Infrastructure providers	Medium term initiative
21.3 Monitor development and ensure that infrastructure is responsive to investment opportunities.	Council	Council, DPE, Infrastructure providers	Ongoing strategy

Direction 22: Manage growth and change in regional cities and strategic and local centres

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
22.1 Coordinate infrastructure delivery across residential and industrial land in regional cities and strategic centres.	Council	DPE, TfNSW, Infrastructure providers	Short term initiative
22.2 Reinforce the role, function and relationship between regional cities and strategic centres in local housing strategies.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
22.3 Improve transport in regional cities and strategic centres, and their connections with regional communities.	TfNSW	Council	Short term initiative

Direction 23: Build the resilience of towns and villages

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
23.1 Update the Strengthening Rural Communities Resource Kit.	DPC	Council, DPE	Short term initiative
23.2 Work with councils to better understand the drivers of population change and implications for local communities.	DPE	Council	Short term initiative
23.3 Work with Central NSW Councils (CENTROC) and other stakeholders to investigate the potential for standardisation of baseline data collection.	DPE	Council, DPC	Short term initiative
23.4 Build drought resilience in rural communities by supporting primary producers and communities to improve preparedness and decision-making.	DOI	Council	Short term initiative

Direction 24: Collaborate and partner with Aboriginal communities

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
24.1 Develop partnerships and engagement protocols with Aboriginal communities during the planning process.	Council	DPE, OEH	Short term initiative
24.2 Engage Aboriginal communities during the preparation of local housing strategies and local environmental plans.	Council	DPE, OEH	Short term initiative

Direction 25: Increase housing diversity and choice

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
25.1 Prepare local housing strategies that increase housing choice, including affordable housing options.	Council	DPE, FACS	Ongoing strategy
25.2 Facilitate increased housing choice in regional cities and strategic centres at locations near or accessible to services and jobs.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
25.3 Align infrastructure planning with new land release areas to provide adequate and timely infrastructure.	Council	DPE, TfNSW, Infrastructure providers	Ongoing strategy
25.4 Locate higher density development close to town centres to capitalise on existing infrastructure and increase housing choice.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
25.5 Promote incentives to encourage greater housing affordability including a greater mix of housing in new release areas.	Council	DPE, FACS	Ongoing strategy
25.6 Prepare guidelines for local housing strategies that provide planning guidance for local affordable housing needs.	DPE	Council	Short term initiative
25.7 Work with councils to appropriately plan for future social and affordable housing needs.	FACS	Council, DPE, Housing providers	Short term initiative

Direction 26: Increase housing choice for seniors

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
26.1 Promote ageing-in-place by adopting elements of Livable Housing Australia’s Livable Housing Design Guidelines in development controls for housing, where possible.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
26.2 Promote opportunities for retirement villages, nursing homes and similar housing needs of seniors in local housing strategies.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
26.3 Remove planning barriers to provide a range of low-care and independent seniors’ accommodation options in appropriate locations across the region.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
26.4 Review State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability) 2004 to make it more applicable for private developers in regional areas.	DPE	Council	Short term initiative
26.5 Locate new housing for seniors close to existing services and facilities, and on land free from hazards.	Council	DPE, RFS, OEH	Ongoing strategy
26.6 Work with councils to investigate the demand for seniors housing and to identify barriers to providing low care and independent seniors accommodation options across the region.	DPE	Council	Short term initiative
26.7 Work with Gilgandra Shire Council to produce a case study on Cooee Lodge Retirement Village to guide other councils developing aged care accommodation.	Council	DPE, DPC	Immediate initiative

Direction 27: Deliver a range of accommodation options for seasonal, itinerant and mining workforces

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
27.1 Produce guidelines to help councils plan for and manage seasonal and itinerant worker accommodation.	DPE	Council	Immediate initiative
27.2 Prepare planning guidelines for the short-term accommodation of mining employees to support workforce needs during mining construction, operation or shutdown.	DPE	Council	Immediate initiative

Direction 28: Manage rural residential development

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
28.1 Locate new rural residential areas: close to existing urban settlements to maximise the efficient use of existing infrastructure and services, including roads, water, sewer and waste services, and social and community infrastructure; to avoid and minimise the potential for land use conflicts with productive, zoned agricultural land and natural resources; to avoid areas of high environmental, cultural or heritage significance, regionally important agricultural land or areas affected by natural hazards.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
28.2 Enable new rural residential development only where it has been identified in a local housing strategy prepared by Council and approved by the Department of Planning and Environment.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
28.3 Manage land use conflict that can result from cumulative impacts of successive development decisions.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy

Direction 29: Deliver healthy built environments and better urban design

Action	Governance
	Responsibility¹	Partner²	Timing³
29.1 Develop regional urban design guidelines for planning, designing and developing healthy built environments.	DPE	OGA, Council	Immediate initiative
29.2 Enhance the quality of neighbourhoods by integrating recreational walking and cycling networks.	Council	DPE, TfNSW	Ongoing strategy
29.3 Reflect local built form, heritage and character in new housing developments.	Council	DPE	Ongoing strategy
29.4 Incorporate water sensitive urban design in new developments.	Council	DPE, OEH	Ongoing strategy