Huon Valley Council has engaged Ireneinc Planning & Urban Design to prepare a Rural Living Zone Study. The study provides:

• A review of the existing Rural Living Zoned land across the Huon Valley and the areas currently classified A, B, C and D.

• Details what areas of Rural Living Zoned land have the potential for subdivision currently.

• The matters which would be relevant to consider if additional subdivision density was to be sought by landowners or communities.

• A matrix assessment tool to help identify what land may be more or less appropriate for creating additional housing opportunities.

Background

The Huon Valley Land Use and Development Strategy (LUDS) is Council’s main plan for making long-term decisions about land use. It aims to meet community needs and follow State and regional planning rules.

The LUDS was developed from July 2022, using community feedback and detailed data on population, housing, infrastructure, and jobs from the State of the Valley Report.

The community wanted to balance rural living opportunities with protecting natural landscapes and farmland. These priorities are reflected in the LUDS with Strategic Direction 10.6 identifying Rural Living Zone areas which might allow more homes in the future.

The Rural Living Zone study is designed to help meet this need.

Purpose

The study aims to help land-owners and Council identify where more homes could be built in Rural Living Zones in the future.

The assessment tool provides clear and consistent guidelines for deciding where smaller Rural Living zoned blocks might be allowed. It considers key factors including:

• infrastructure capacity

• environmental impacts

• natural hazards community expectations

• as well as the requirements of the Planning Act and relevant policies.