Conservation Zoning

Protecting Oxley Beach's Conservation Values

One of the key concerns for Protect Oxley Beach is the proposal to amend the planning controls that currently protect the natural, cultural and environmental values of Oxley Beach.

The proposed Ocean Pool cannot be constructed under the current planning framework because much of the site is zoned C2 Environmental Conservation under the Greater Port Macquarie Local Environmental Plan. This zoning recognises that the land has significant environmental, ecological, cultural, scenic and scientific values that warrant long-term protection.

Planning Proposal PP-2025-1474 seeks to amend the Local Environmental Plan to introduce a site-specific planning provision that would enable development that is not currently anticipated within the C2 Environmental Conservation zone.

Understanding what C2 zoning is, why it applies to Oxley Beach, and the purpose it serves within the NSW planning system is fundamental to understanding the planning proposal itself.

The information below explains why the land was originally zoned for conservation, the values it protects, and how Planning Proposal PP-2025-1474 proposes to change the existing planning framework.

What is C2 Environmental Conservation zoning?

The land surrounding Oxley Beach is predominantly zoned C2 Environmental Conservation under the Port Macquarie Local Environmental Plan.

C2 is one of the highest environmental protection zones available under the NSW planning system. It is applied to land that contains important ecological, scientific, cultural, scenic or aesthetic values that warrant long-term conservation rather than urban development. The purpose of the zone is to recognise these values and ensure they are protected for future generations.

The NSW Standard Instrument Local Environmental Plan sets two primary objectives for C2 land:

• To protect, manage and restore areas of high ecological, scientific, cultural or aesthetic values.

• To prevent development that could destroy, damage or otherwise have an adverse effect on those values.

How is C2 zoning determined?

Land is not zoned C2 simply because it is undeveloped. It is generally identified through strategic planning studies, environmental assessments and mapping that consider factors such as:

• Native vegetation and biodiversity values

• Threatened species and ecological communities

• Aboriginal cultural heritage

• Geological and geoheritage significance

• Scenic landscape values

• Coastal processes and hazards

• Waterways, wetlands and habitat connectivity

• Long-term environmental management objectives

The zoning reflects the characteristics of the land itself rather than a future development opportunity. Once applied, the planning framework assumes that these environmental values should be maintained and managed into the future.

Why is Oxley Beach C2?

Oxley Beach contains many of the characteristics that the C2 zone is intended to protect.

These include:

• Birpai Aboriginal cultural heritage and continuing connection to Country.

• Significant native coastal vegetation and habitat.

• A coastal landscape recognised for its scenic and recreational values.

• An interconnected dune, headland and rocky shore ecosystem.

• Internationally significant geological exposures forming part of the Port Macquarie Coastal Tract.

• Land identified within coastal hazard mapping as being exposed to coastal erosion, inundation, storm surge, coastal processes and sea level rise.

• A largely natural coastal environment that contributes to the ecological integrity of the wider coastline.

Environmental investigations undertaken for the site have also identified nine threatened, endangered or vulnerable fauna species occurring within or immediately adjacent to the proposal area, highlighting the biodiversity significance of the site.

How is C2 land managed?

The purpose of C2 land is conservation first.

Management generally focuses on:

• Protecting biodiversity and threatened species.

• Conserving Aboriginal cultural heritage.

• Maintaining natural landforms and coastal processes.

• Protecting geological, scientific and educational values.

• Restoring degraded vegetation and habitats where required.

• Providing low-impact public recreation that is compatible with conservation.

• Ensuring development does not adversely affect the environmental values for which the land was zoned.

What development is permitted?

Unlike residential, commercial or recreation zones, C2 Environmental Conservation is not intended for intensive development.

Only a limited range of land uses may be considered with development consent, including environmental protection works, environmental facilities, research stations, roads, flood mitigation works, eco-tourist facilities and passive recreation areas where they are compatible with the conservation objectives of the zone.

Many forms of development are expressly prohibited, including major recreation facilities and any development that is not specifically listed as permissible within the zone.

This reflects the underlying purpose of the zone—to conserve important environmental land rather than facilitate urban development.

Planning Proposal PP-2025-1474- Ocean Pool Oxley Beach

Planning Proposal PP-2025-1474 seeks to amend the Port Macquarie Local Environmental Plan to enable construction of a permanent ocean pool and associated infrastructure at Oxley Beach.

The proposal seeks to introduce a new site-specific planning provision that would permit development not currently envisaged for land with C2 Environmental Conservation zoning.

If approved, the amendment would enable consideration of development including:

• A permanent ocean pool structure.

• Reinforced concrete retaining walls and associated engineering works.

• Excavation and modification of natural rock platforms.

• Public amenities and supporting infrastructure.

• Construction activities within land currently recognised for its ecological, geological, cultural and scenic significance.

Because the proposal requires an amendment to the Local Environmental Plan rather than proceeding under the existing planning controls, it is currently undergoing Gateway assessment to determine whether the proposed change to the planning framework has sufficient strategic and environmental merit to proceed to public exhibition and detailed assessment.

Understanding why Oxley Beach is zoned C2 is central to understanding the planning proposal itself. The existing zoning reflects the recognised environmental, cultural, scientific and landscape values of the site, while Planning Proposal PP-2025-1474 seeks to amend those planning controls to facilitate development that is not currently anticipated under the existing conservation zoning.