Nambucca Valley Council seeks community input on Rural Residential Strategy

AN additional 650 hectares of Nambucca Valley land has been earmarked for potential rezoning for rural residential purposes.

Nambucca Valley Council has released its draft reviewed Rural Residential Land Release Strategy for public exhibition, with community feedback invited until 3 August 2026.

Residents are being encouraged to have their say on the key planning document, which could help shape where future rural residential development occurs across the shire.

The strategy has undergone its first review in 17 years and incorporates updated information, including probable maximum flood mapping.

It is now being presented to the public for comment.

Nambucca Valley Council Acting General Manager David Moloney said the review represented an important milestone in planning for the region’s future growth.

“It is the first time in 17 years the Nambucca Valley Rural Residential Land Release Strategy has been reviewed, so I anticipate it will be of high interest to our community,” he said.

Council’s planning team spent the past 12 months reviewing the strategy and assessing land that may be suitable for future rural residential development.

Mr Moloney said the review identified 651.45 hectares of additional land outside the current land release areas that could potentially be rezoned for rural residential purposes.

“Our planning team undertook the review over the past 12 months and identified 651.45 hectares of additional land from outside the current land release strategy areas that could be rezoned for rural residential purposes.” Mr Moloney added.

“These areas are largely in Congarinni, Utungun and Newee Creek.

“While we are proposing to release land in these areas to allow opportunities to be more evenly spread across the shire, we are also looking to remove some land at Warrell Creek and Utungun which have  been identified as having agricultural significance and to minimise the potential of land use conflict.”

The draft strategy is intended to provide a framework for the management and future release of rural residential land throughout the Nambucca Valley.

Council is responsible for ensuring there is sufficient land available to accommodate predicted population growth while balancing infrastructure capacity, environmental considerations and agricultural land uses.

Mr Moloney encouraged residents to review the document and provide feedback.

“I encourage our community to take a look at the draft, updated strategy and if you have any questions or comments, please communicate with Council staff by 3 August 2026,” he said.

Community members can make submissions in writing by emailing council@nambucca.nsw.gov.au or by writing to the General Manager, Nambucca Valley Council, PO Box 177, Macksville NSW 2447.

Council has advised that submissions may be included in Council business papers or otherwise publicly disclosed.

By Mick BIRTLES