Correspondence to FOKE from the Department of Planning & Environment – Planning Proposal to Rezone Land at Patyegarang

From: DPIE SS PGS Ministerial Response Mailbox <ministerial.response@dpie.nsw.gov.au>
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 12:39 PM
To: DPIE SS PGS Ministerial Response Mailbox <ministerial.response@dpie.nsw.gov.au>
Subject: Correspondence from the Department of Planning and Environment – Planning Proposal to Rezone Land at Patyegarang

Thank you for your correspondence about the planning proposal to rezone land at Patyegarang, owned by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (Metro LALC). The Minister asked me to respond on his behalf.

I acknowledge the concerns you have raised about the potential impacts of this rezoning on the local environment.

The NSW Government is dedicated to unlocking opportunities for Local Aboriginal Land Councils to help deliver economic and community benefits from their land holdings for future generations. The Metro LALC owns approximately 621 hectares of land in the Northern Beaches local government area. This land was granted to the LALC over time under the provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, to compensate Aboriginal people for the historic dispossession of land and in recognition of ongoing disadvantage.

The Sydney North Strategic Planning Panel considered the adequacy of the planning proposal for the MLALC Morgan Road site in May 2023 and determined that it should be submitted to the Department of Planning and Environment for a Gateway assessment. In June, the planning proposal was issued a Gateway determination subject to several conditions.

The Panel reviewed the updated planning proposal on 28 August 2023 and determined that it adequately addresses all Gateway conditions and its feedback and should proceed to public exhibition. The proposal was placed on public exhibition from 26 September to 7 November 2023.

An independent planning consultant is now undertaking a review of all submissions received in response to the exhibition. Following the review, an independent planning report will be prepared to recommend the way forward for the planning proposal in response to community feedback. Based on this information, the Panel will make a recommendation to the Department on whether the proposal should be finalised. 

Further information on the progression of this planning proposal can be found on the Department’s website at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/plans-for-your-area/priority-growth-areas-and-precincts/northern-beaches-aboriginal-land.

Should you have any questions, you can contact the Department by email at metrocentralnorth@dpie.nsw.gov.au.

Yours sincerely

Leah Schramm

Acting Executive Director

Metro Central and North

The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment acknowledges that it stands on Country which always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters, and we show our respect for elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to providing places in which Aboriginal people are included socially, culturally and economically through thoughtful and collaborative approaches to our work.