Between 24 July and 26 August 2024, Growth Planning publicly exhibited a Planning Proposal to amend the North-West Urban Release Area (NWURA) in the Dubbo Regional Local Environmental Plan 2022 (DRLEP2022). The proposal aimed to support a wider mix of housing and development.

The Planning Proposal has been updated to include more streamlined and effective planning controls. These revisions support a greater mix of housing types, in line with the adopted North-West Urban Release Area Master Plan.

Key updates include:

Rezoning land within the North-West Urban Release Area to:

• R1 General Residential
• R2 Low Density Residential
• E1 Local Centre
• RE1 Public Recreation
• SP2 Infrastructure.

Note: Some areas zoned residential under the DRLEP22 are intended for roads and public recreation (including parks). These uses remain permissible within the proposed residential zones.

Introducing minimum lot sizes of 300m2, 450m2, and 600m2 for land zoned R2 Low Density Residential.

Setting dwelling yield ranges for R1 General Residential land, linked to specific sectors shown in the updated Urban Release Area map under Part 6 of the DRLEP2022.

Identifying land for future acquisition, including:

• Part of the key east–west road corridor (SP2 zone, west of Bunglegumbie Road)
• Five RE1 Public Recreation areas on lots with existing Development Applications
• A potential school site (SP2 zone, east of Bunglegumbie Road).

Applying a gross floor area limit to the proposed E1 Local Centre zone to preserve Dubbo’s commercial centre hierarchy.

Updating maps, including:

• The Urban Release Area map
• Heritage mapping for 'Mount Olive' to reflect current lot boundaries.

Adjusting the Urban Release Area boundary, with the proposed inclusion of Lot 1 DP653795 and Part Lot 87 DP753233.

Designating three lots (Lot 53, Lot 133, Lot 8 DP753233) as future investigation areas. These will retain their current zoning under DRLEP2022 and be considered in future planning stages following consultation with landowners.

• Rezoning some RE1 zoned areas to residential and relocating some RE1 zoned areas to more appropriate locations.
• Amending some R2 zones along the key east-west road connection to R1 to ensure better dwelling diversity along the ‘gateway’ to the precinct.
• Rezoning some R2 land to R1 land to provide additional dwelling diversity closer to services and/or amenities.

Removing three lots in the south-west (Lot 53, Lot 133, Lot 8 DP 753233) and designating them as a future investigation area.

Introduce gross floor area restrictions for the E1 Local Centre to preserve the commercial centres hierarchy in Dubbo, safeguarding the CBD's role as the primary centre for core commercial, retail, business, and entertainment services for the Dubbo community, the Region, and visitors.

Identify specific land for reservation to facilitate infrastructure provisions.

Amending maps associated with the heritage item 'Mount Olive' to accurately depict the current lot layout.