C A Fairland Hall Planning Proposal

Public hearing

Hunter’s Hill Council is currently seeking to reclassify C.A. Fairland Hall from community to operational land. This reclassification would be achieved through amendment to Schedule 4 of the Hunters Hill LEP 2012.

On 25 March 2024, Council Resolved to forward a ‘planning proposal’ to the NSW Government to allow reclassification of the site. A Gateway Determination (approval to proceed to the next steps in the process) was issued to Council on 13 June 2024. Community feedback was invited during a public exhibition period that expired on 27 August 2024.

A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, 13 November, 6pm in Council Chambers. The public hearing, which will be facilitated by independent chairperson and Director of Parkland Planners, Sandy Hoy. Sandy has over 30 years consulting experience, specialising in open space, sport, recreation, strategic and environmental planning; and in related community engagement.

This hearing is intended to give the community an opportunity to expand on written submissions and discuss issues with an independent person in a public forum.

The outcome of the community feedback and public hearing will be reported back to Council for consideration, at which time Council may resolve to proceed or not proceed with the current planning proposal, or to proceed with an amended planning proposal.

Register to attend and request to address the public hearing

Background

All public land is required to be classified as either ‘community’ or ‘operational’. Community land is land council makes available for use by the public, for example as parks or sports grounds. Operational land is land which facilitates the functions of Council and may not be open to the public, for example a works depot or a Council pound. This classification also determines land management where community land must not be sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of by a council. There are no such restrictions on operational land.

Council is currently seeking to reclassify C A Fairland Hall from community to operational land. This reclassification would be achieved through amendment to Schedule 4 of the Hunters Hill LEP 2012.

C A Fairland Hall is located at 14 Church Street Hunters Hill (Lot 92 DP 666674).

The Council owned site is currently split into a higher southern and lower northern section by a 10 metre sandstone cliff. The southern section of the site contains the C A Fairland Hall, that is currently used as a community facility and a playground. The northern section of the site is landlocked and currently used by the adjoining neighbours as part of the gardens at the rear of their houses. The current use of the northern section of the site by adjoining landholders represents an ongoing maintenance and liability risk for Council.

The reclassification would allow for the subdivision and subsequent lease or sale of the northern section of the site to the adjoining property owners, so that responsibility for the land can reflect the current use of the site. It is Council’s intention to continue the operation of the C A Fairland Hall as a community asset for the foreseeable future, while the reclassification of the southern portion of the site to operational would allow for a wider range of land uses. The proceeds of the lease or sale of the northern portion of the site would also assist to facilitate maintenance and repairs to C A Fairland Hall.

Planning Proposal Process

On 25 March 2024, Council Resolved to forward a ‘planning proposal’ to the NSW Government to allow reclassification of the site. A Gateway Determination (approval to proceed to the next steps in the process) was issued to Council on 13 June 2024. This Gateway Determination includes a number of conditions that must be addressed, including administrative updates to the planning proposal document and government agency and community consultation.

Council Staff have made required administrative updates to the planning proposal document as per the conditions of the Gateway Determination and are now undertaking government agency and community consultation. This consultation will be followed by a public hearing, which will be facilitated by an independent chairperson and is intended to give the community an opportunity to expand on written submissions and discuss issues with an independent person in a public forum. Council will provide a minimum of 21 days notice of the intent to hold the public hearing, which will occur after the public exhibition phase.

The outcomes of this consultation and public hearing will be reported back to Council for consideration, at which time Council may resolve to proceed or not proceed with the current planning proposal, or to proceed with an amended planning proposal. Council aims to complete this planning proposal process by 13 March 2025.

Council has nominated not to be the ‘Local Plan Making Authority’ (responsible for the finalisation of the planning proposal), given the proposal incorporates reclassification of Council owned land. Finalisation of the planning proposal will instead be coordinated by the NSW Government.

Documentation associated with this planning proposal was on public exhibition between 17 July 2024 and 27 August 2024:

• on Council’s website
• on the NSW Planning Portal
• in hard copy at Council’s Administration Centre at 22 Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill.