Ireneinc Planning & Urban Design has been engaged by Huon Valley Council to prepare a Rural Living Zone Study for land within the Huon Valley that is zoned Rural Living considering the criteria relevant to assessing the suitability of some areas allowing a greater density through additional subdivision than what the current planning scheme requirements would allow.

Background

The Land Use and Development Strategy (LUDS) is Huon Valley Council's primary strategic document for long-term land use decisions, aligning community needs with State and regional planning frameworks.

Developed from July 2022 using the State of the Valley Report's comprehensive analysis of population, housing, infrastructure and employment, the LUDS was shaped by extensive community engagement. The community prioritised balancing rural living opportunities with protecting natural landscapes and agricultural land.

The strategy addresses the dual challenge of preserving agricultural land while enabling rural living, recognising the Huon Valley's defining characteristics of natural beauty and rural lifestyle. Key focus areas include residential development in rural areas, natural hazard risk management, and safeguarding productive agricultural land and community values, with Strategic Direction 10.6 specifically identifying Rural Living Zone areas that may support greater density.

The Project Intent

The Rural Living Zone Project directly responds to this need, identifying opportunities for increased density within existing Rural Living Zones by assessing infrastructure capacity, environmental impacts, natural hazards and community expectations.

This study establishes structured assessment processes and decision-making criteria but requires Local Provisions Schedule amendments to enable actual densification.