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Special Activation Precincts are a new way of planning and delivering industrial and commercial infrastructure projects in dedicated areas in regional NSW, by bring together planning and investment support services.
This means that businesses will be able to establish and grow with certainty and confidence knowing that the right planning framework is in place to enable more local jobs and drive economic outcomes in regional NSW.
The creation of Special Activation Precincts is part of the NSW Government’s 20 Year Economic Vision for Regional NSW and will be delivered as part of the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund.
There are five core components to Special Activation Precincts:
| Component | Description |
| Government led studies | The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment conducts technical studies to inform the development of the master plan and to ensure land uses and development occurs in the right locations for each precinct. This up-front planning takes the burden away from investors wanting to grow or start up a business in the precincts. |
| Fast track planning | Once the master plan and other supporting planning instruments are endorsed, this will provide investors with streamlined planning and environmental approvals. This may include providing for land uses that suit complying development or approval exemptions. |
| Government led development | The Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation will lead and coordinate the delivery, through Delivery Plans according to the master plan for each precinct, that supports orderly development, sensitive to market drivers, landowners and infrastructure delivery. |
| Infrastructure Development | Government will invest in new or upgrade roads, water, power, digital connectivity and social infrastructure for each precinct, removing barriers for investors to establish and grow. |
| Business Concierge | The Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation offers targeted business with concierge services to attract investment and support businesses to establish and grow in each precinct. |
The Government is proposing a new zone be established for Special Activation Precincts, called a Regional Enterprise zone.
To support the new zone, an Activation Precincts State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) will be developed for each Special Activation Precinct to enable simplified planning processes where it is consistent with the approved master plan.
The Activation Precincts SEPP may contain individual schedules for each Special Activation Precinct which will include the master plan, the permitted land uses and Principal Development Standards.
The land use table will likely outline the approval pathway for land uses, including exempt and prohibited development and Delivery Plans may outline the infrastructure planning informed by the Principal Development Standards, consistent with the approved master plan.
The public exhibition of the Activation Precincts SEPP, Explanation of Intended Effect is now closed. Submissions are currently being assessed and considered.
It is anticipated the new SEPP will take effect early 2020.
The NSW Government announced Parkes as the first Special Activation Precinct taking advantage of location, business development opportunities and employment growth offered by the east-west rail line and the Inland Rail project.
The NSW Government has investigated an area of 5,600 hectares around the Inland Rail and Logistics Hub and is working closely with Parkes Shire Council on the draft master plan.
Since February 2019, the Government been engaging with the Parkes community as part of the master planning process.
The public exhibition of the draft master plan for the Parkes Special Activation Precinct is closed. Submissions are currently being assessed and considered.
It is anticipated the master plan will be endorsed in the first quarter of 2020.
Once endorsed, the Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation will manage the delivery according to the master plan.
Set to be a world-class business precinct, the Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct will capitalise on the inland rail, and focus on advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, and freight and logistics.
The Government is investigating an area of around 4100 hectares, with 300 hectares already developed as part of the Bomen Business Park.
The NSW Government is working closely with Wagga Wagga City Council on the development of the draft master plan and has been engaging with the businesses in Bomen Business Park, as well as neighbouring communities since June 2019 as part of the master planning process.
It is anticipated the draft master plan for the Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct will be on public exhibition at the beginning of 2020.
On 3 December, the State Government announced Moree as a Special Activation Precinct.
The Moree Special Activation Precinct will capitalise on the region’s agricultural industry by creating a new business hub that specialises in agribusiness, logistics and food processing. The Inland Rail, the Newell Highway, air transport and it’s connection to the Port of Newcastle makes Moree an accessible location for businesses to be able to access global markets.
The master planning process for Moree will begin in the first quarter of 2020, that will be underpinned by an extensive community consultation program.
Work began on "Go Jindabyne" master plan in 2019 and now the Government is investigating an extended area beyond Jindabyne.
The master planning process for the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct will begin in the first quarter of 2020.
Page last updated: 06/03/2020