Northern Beaches Council’s urban planning blueprint Towards 2040 will now go to the Greater Sydney Commission for approval, following endorsement at Council’s February meeting yesterday evening.

Towards 2040, Council’s Local Strategic Planning Statement, received strong support with 88% of respondents responding to it positively in the community engagement process late last year.

Mayor Michael Regan said Council was very pleased to see how well Towards 2040 was received by the local community.

“Towards 2040 is very important as it aims to protect and enhance all our community values while managing growth in a sustainable way over the next 20 years and beyond.

“It guides Council in future planning by identifying clear priorities for sustainably managing the natural environment, infrastructure, housing, transport and employment.

“Overall, Council received 337 responses to our public exhibition of the plan and about 260 people attended our drop-in sessions. It was great to see our local community taking such a strong interest in their future and letting us know what matters most to them. This feedback is invaluable.”

Of the 30 planning priorities, feedback from community engagement was the strongest for sustainability priorities such as healthy and valued coasts and sustainable local transport networks and a low carbon community.

The most number of public submissions received were related to public transport initiatives including mass transit. Submissions called for more sustainable forms of public transport such as electric buses and for Council to go further than the proposed Bus Rapid Transit corridor initiatives within Towards 2040.

The second highest number of submissions gave the thumbs down to excessive population growth due to its potential impact on the environment and concerns regarding infrastructure.

Towards 2040 is a response to the NSW Government requirement of all NSW Councils to prepare a Local Strategic Planning Statement to guide future land use decisions.

Media Enquiries: media@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au 9942 2678