Draft Development Control Plan (DCP)
BILS Development Control Plan (DCP)
Chapter E11 (on exhibition)
What is a DCP, and why here?
A DCP sets the statutory zoning and development standards for a locality. It supplements the LEP, providing more detailed design and performance for things like: road hierarchy, buffers, setbacks, building design, landscape, flood and bushfire response, servicing, and how Work–Live operates. It provides the reference document Council will use when assessing future DAs.
What it would cover
Lot 1: The BILS DCP would apply to Lot 1 of the site only. Lots 2-5 continue to be assessed under the standard Byron DCP 2014.
Movement & streets: A collector road linking the upper and lower employment areas, manages access for heavy/service vehicles, and provides for walking and cycling links. It will also consider The Saddle Road's potential transition (subject to future approval) to a people-first green spine.
DORAS + NRLG Manual: Road design will follow Transport for NSW's Design of Roads and Streets (DORAS) for movement-and-place outcomes, with detailed engineering to the Northern Rivers Local Government Development Design and Construction Manual where relevant and approved by Council.
Environment & safety: Flood-prone land excluded from development; bushfire APZ established; biodiversity and ecological corridors retained and enhanced; WSUD principles applied.
Amenity & built form: Buffers, setbacks and interface treatments will protect adjoining rural land and ensure neighbour-friendly outcomes. Controls on building scale, materials and landscaping will also guide future development to avoid oversized or inappropriate sheds.
Servicing: Water, sewer and power must connect to reticulated systems and be staged with development, to Council's satisfaction. Stormwater will be managed through WSUD measures (e.g. swales and infiltration) to reduce runoff impacts.
Work–Live: Applying to E3 only, requires a genuine workspace with subordinate living area, occupied by proprietor/lessee or employees. Not general housing.
Current status
The Draft BILS DCP - Chapter E11: Gulgan (BILS Area 5) - is on public exhibition from 24 October to 23 November 2025.
Anyone can make a submission via Council's "Your Say Byron" page during the exhibition period.
Council will consider all submissions, amending if appropriate, before making a decision on whether to adopt the final DCP.
What it would not cover
Building and construction approvals: All building and construction works will require a separate DA.
Further approvals
DA(s) for building and construction works must show compliance with the LEP and adopted DCP. They will address design, siting, parking, stormwater, landscaping, bushfire/flood responses, and traffic.
Typical pre-construction approvals (Construction Certificate) and post-construction approvals (Occupation Certificate) will still apply. This development will be required to follow the same statutory approval pathways as any other development in the Shire.
Construction & compliance
Before major construction works, a Construction Management Plan (CMP) will likely be required, covering hours, noise, dust, truck routing, waste, and erosion/sediment control. Works will be inspected throughout ensuring adherence with consent conditions and development standards. Compliance will be checked prior to final sign-off and occupation.
The exhibited DCP implements the Byron LEP amendment gazetted on 30 May 2025.