Group Manager Community and Corporate, Suzanne Lollback, said in a report to the latest Policy and Strategy Committee meeting that the situation that exists at present is that the Lithgow Local Government Area is governed by no less than three different Environmental Planning Instruments, a legacy of past Council amalgamations.

This means that Council officers have to negotiate through requirements not only in place for Lithgow but also separate regulations inherited from the old Rylstone and Evans Shire Councils when portions of these areas merged with Lithgow.

Council hopes to have an amalgamated LEP gazetted by March next year.

Ms Lollback said that tenders for the formal development of the combined programs closed last week and it is intended that a report recommending adoption of a tender will go before the August 5 meeting of Council.

The State Department of Planning will be required to ‘sign off’ on the various ‘milestones’ of the project.

Ms Lollback said a considerable amount of preliminary work has already been done, including the local Profile, Corporate Strategic Plan, draft issues paper, Marrangaroo Local Environment Study, Social Plan and draft Cultural Plan.

The purpose of the program is to streamline Lithgow Council’s planning process ‘making it more strategic, efficient and transparent while enhancing community involvement’.

Council has already received a government grant of $100,000 towards the costs of the program and will fund the remainder out of this year’s budget.