Planning Proposal

Rezoning and Local Environmental Plan (LEP) controls (approved)

What changed on 30 May 2025?

Council rezoned 6.5 hectares at 66 The Saddle Road to E3 Productivity Support (with a mapped Work–Live precinct) and E4 General Industrial. Work–Live applies only to the E3 zone - it is not general housing and does not add residential yield.

At the same time, some RU2 land was rezoned to C3 Environmental Management to secure and protect sensitive environmental areas. Other land remains RU2, C2 or C3. Updated Minimum Lot Size (MLS) mapping now applies across the wider site for clarity in future subdivision.

The above changes were adopted as amendments to the Byron Shire LEP.

Why here, and why now?

Area 5 was earmarked in the Byron Industrial Land Strategy (BILS) for new employment land and Work–Live opportunities. The LEP made that strategy statutory.

Other Local Environmental Plan (LEP) Controls

Alongside zoning and MLS, the LEP also maps Height of Buildings and, in parts, Floor Space Ratio (FSR). These provisions work in tandem with the BILS DCP if adopted.

Scope for the DCP

The BILS DCP applies to the entirety of Area 5 of Council’s Business and Industrial Lands Strategy (BILS), comprising the 6.5 hectares of employment land (E3/E4) and the adjoining C2, C3 and RU2 land used for buffers, access and protection. This makes up proposed Lot 1 in the current subdivision DA. Residual parcels (proposed Lots 2–5) remain under their RU2/C2/C3 zoning and continue to be assessed under the standard Byron LEP and DCP 2014.

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Planning Proposal Details

Below is a summary of the LEP controls approved on 30 May 2025 when the Planning Proposal was gazetted.

Zoning

A total of 6.5 hectares of employment land rezoned as prescribed in the BILS Strategic Planning for Area 5:

Precinct A rezoned to E3 Productivity Support
Precinct B & C rezoned to E4 General Industrial
An increase of land zoned C2 Environmental Conservation and C3 Environmental Management.

Further details for each Zone can be found in the Byron Shire Local Environment Plan (LEP), under ‘Land Use Table’, here.

Floor Space Ratio

A Floor Space Ratio of 0.9:1 specific to the BILS Precincts. This is consistent with the typical Floor Space Ratios in the Byron Arts and Industry Estate locality.

Minimum Lot Size

Minimum Lot Size (MLS) mapping now applies across the wider site, allowing the land to be logically subdivided into 5x Lots - Lot 1 being the BILS Area 5 site and Lots 2-5 being the residual rural lots.

Height of Buildings

A maximum building height of 11.5m to support the land use optimisation of the BILS precincts.

Local Clause

Providing for work/live accommodation in the E3 precinct to support the employment land uses.

Precincts

The rezoning allows for three distinct Precincts plus an area of RU2 Rural land that was upzoned to C Zones. The split of precincts will help ensure different uses are appropriately located according to access, topography, site constraints and access. Below is a summary of each Precinct.

Precinct A

Approved Rezoning + LEP Controls

E3 Productivity Support

Area

5.30 hectares (gross), 4.64 hectares (net)

Description

To provide business park-type developments with work/live units, provide facilities, services, light industries, warehouses, and offices compatible with local centres, maintain economic viability, and support new industries and community needs unsuitable for other zones.

Site Features

Cleared and degraded farmland with elevated views. Partially noise affected to the east. Mix of relatively flat and steeper terrain, with an 18m maximum change in gradient running north to south.