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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc
New LEP for St Huberts
Gosford Council has agreed in principle to make a new Local Environmental Plan (LEP) for St Huberts Island.
The move came after legal advice had indicated pontoons at the island were illegal.
The LEP would reclassify the canals on St Huberts Island to "operational land" to allow the retention of the pontoons.
The council was told that the St Huberts Island Residents Action Committee had made representations to review Development Control Plan No 145 which applied to the island.
It was told that legal advice had been sought which revealed that the "drainage canals" on St Huberts Island were created on community land and, as there was no plan of management, the construction of pontoons was prohibited.
"For council to allow the retention of pontoons in the canals, the land should be reclassified as operational land," a staff report advised.
"Council could allow the retention of the existing pontoons where the council has issued a licence to occupy the council land.
"Council could allow pontoons to remain if built without council's approval ... on the basis that they meet the council's requirements as to location, design and structural adequacy and the owner has a licence to occupy the site."
The council was told the cost to make a Local Environment Plan was about $1000.
It decided to take no action to remove structures from the canal where it had previously issued a licence for the occupation of the reserve.
Council agenda