Meeting papers

6.8.3 Rural Zone Code
  6.8.3.1 Application
  This code applies to:­
  (a)   assessable development on land within the Rural zone as identified on the zoning maps contained within Schedule 2
        (Mapping); and
  (b)   acceptable development subject to requirements and identified as requiring assessment against the Rural zone code
        by the tables of assessment in Part 5 (Tables of assessment).

  6.8.3.2 Purpose and overall outcomes
  (1)   The purpose of the Rural zone is to:
        (a)   provide for rural uses and activities; and
        (b)   provide for other uses and activities that are compatible with:
              (i)    existing and future rural uses and activities; and
              (ii)   the character and environmental features of the zone; and
        (c)   maintain the capacity of land for rural uses and activities by protecting and managing significant natural
              resources and processes.
  (2)   The overall outcomes sought for the Rural zone are as follows:­
        (a)   The establishment of a wide range of rural activities is facilitated, including animal husbandry, aquaculture,
              cropping, horticulture, roadside stalls, rural industries, forest practices, wholesale nurseries and other primary
              production and compatible uses.
        (b)   The viability of existing and future rural activities is protected from the intrusion of incompatible uses.
        (c)   Areas for primary production are conserved and lot fragmentation is avoided.
        (d)   Existing extractive industries and key resource areas are protected from the intrusion of incompatible uses.
        (e)   Rural activities embrace sustainable land management practices and contribute to the amenity and landscape
              of the area. Livestock enterprises are predominantly pasture fed, free range operations.
        (f)   More intensive rural activities including animal keeping, intensive horticulture and extractive industry may be
              established in the zone provided that adverse environmental and amenity impacts including the generation of
              noise, dust or odour are avoided with sensitive land uses buffered from impacts.
        (g)   Lot reconfigurations are typically limited to instances of protecting remnant vegetation or riparian corridors or
              improving the delivery or function of regional infrastructure.
        (h)   The establishment of outdoor recreation and small­scale tourism facilities in suitable locations is facilitated in a
              manner that does not significantly compromise the rural productivity or ecological values of the land.
        (i)   The Rural zone provides housing for permanent residents.
        (j)   Visitor accommodation complements rural uses and promotes the sustainable use of rural land, with no
              resultant changes to the rural amenity or rural production of the area.
        (k)   The home of permanent residents may be occasionally available for short term guests where it is in addition to
              the principal function of a dwelling house to house permanent resident(s)
        (l)   Nature based tourism adopts exemplary standards of ecologically sustainable design and facilitates
              appreciation of the natural environment.
        (m)   Rural activities provide for appropriate value adding to produce on site where adverse environmental and amenity
              impacts are avoided.
        (n)   Home­based businesses which add to the economic sustainability of the hinterland are established where the
              nature, scale and intensity of the activity is compatible with the character and amenity of the surrounding
              locality.


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