Planning Proposal LEP24/0003 – Southern Growth Area – Zone 1 | Southern Growth Area

On Exhibition

The Southern Growth Area Zone 1 - Planning Proposal (LEP24/0003) is on exhibition until Friday 12 December. Have Your Say on the Plan via the submission form below.

Overview

Council is in receipt of a proponent-led planning proposal to rezone land in Zone 1 of the Southern Growth Area.

The proposal seeks to establish a new community consisting of circa 2,950 dwellings that will be supported by enabling infrastructure and services.

The draft planning proposal package includes:

A draft Urban Design Report (including indicative master plan) for Zone 1 of the SGA

A draft Planning Proposal for Zone 1 (justification and basis for the rezoning)

Preliminary technical studies that inform the basis of the proposal

At the Ordinary Council Meeting of 24 March 2025, Council resolved to forward the planning proposal to the Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure (DPHI), requesting a gateway determination.

Council received a Gateway Determination from DPHI on 21 August 2025. Council has also received approval from DPHI to publicly exhibit the planning proposal on 23 October 2025.

The Proposal

The planning proposal seeks to amend the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 (LEP). The Wagga Wagga LEP provides the local statutory framework that guides development and land use decisions in Wagga Wagga. LEPs set zoning and development standards, which provide a framework for how land can be developed and used.

The planning proposal for SGA Zone 1 will rezone the land to deliver a range of residential, commercial, open space (recreation) conservation, and infrastructure uses (future school).

The proposal will pursue changes to the minimum lot size and the inclusion of new density provisions.

The planning proposal will also seek administrative changes, such as identifying the precinct as an 'Urban Release Area' and updating the acquisition clauses that will enable future delivery of a school site.

The Planning Proposal is supported by a draft Development Control Plan, which is currently being assessed by Council and will be the subject of public consultation at a future point in time.

Document Library

Planning Proposal & Urban Design

DPHI Correspondence

Plan Gallery

Key Features

Key features of the draft Southern Growth Area Zone 1 Planning Proposal include:

capacity for approximately 2,950 new dwellings, including diverse housing types like detached houses, dual occupancies, semi-detached dwellings, terraces, and apartments.

Over 55 ha of open space, including space for new recreational areas and sporting fields. This includes 4 local parks and a district park with 12.88ha of open space and new community facilities.

Over 30 ha of conservation land which will include the restoration and revegetation of degraded riparian areas.

Additional active transport network connections along Plumpton Road, Holbrook Road and within the new development.

A new village centre which will provide opportunities for commercial and retail opportunities.

Allocation of land for a future school.

Southern Growth Area

Learn more about the Southern Growth Area Zones 1 - 4
Development Contributions Plan - SGA Zone 1

More information about the proposed funding and infrastructure requirements

Who's Listening

Matt Yeomans
Senior Strategic Planner

Phone: 1300 292 442

Email: council@wagga.nsw.gov.au

Application Details

LEP24/0003 - Council reference number

PP-2023-2907 - Department of Planning reference number

Planning Proposal Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

Lodgement & initial assessment

The planning proposal is lodged and considered by Council.
Timeline item 2 - complete

Council consideration

Council resolves whether or not to forward the planning proposal to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure requesting a gateway determination
Timeline item 3 - complete

Gateway Determination

Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure assesses the strategic and site-specific merit of a planning proposal and issues a Gateway determination specifying if the planning proposal should proceed and whether consultation with authorities and government agencies is required.
Timeline item 4 - complete

Post-Gateway

Council reviews the Gateway determination and actions any required conditions prior to public exhibition
Timeline item 5 - active

On Exhibition

Consultation with the community, key authorities and government agencies (as required). Review of the planning proposal to address conditions of Gateway determination and submissions.
Timeline item 6 - incomplete

Under Review

Submissions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review.
Timeline item 7 - incomplete

Adoption

A recommendation is prepared for decision by Council.
Timeline item 8 - incomplete

Finalisation

Final assessment of the planning proposal and if supported, preparation of the draft LEP, review and finalisation. Once finalised, the LEP may be made, notified and come into effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

A planning proposal is a document that explains the intended outcome of a proposed amendment to a local environmental plan and sets out the justification for making that amendment.

The preparation of a planning proposal is only the first step in preparing an amendment to Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 (the LEP).

A planning proposal usually seeks to change the current zoning of the land or the LEP provisions to allow a type of development that is currently prohibited. Council needs to carefully consider the suitability of the proposed change including submissions from the public and relevant agencies. After a planning proposal is supported and if the amendment is made, other steps occur such as lodgement of a development application.

Further information regarding planning proposals can be obtained from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s website at www.planning.nsw.gov.au.

The process that a planning proposal follows is outlined on Council's website.

The planning proposal and other supporting documentation can be viewed on this page. You can access these documents from the 'Document Library' located on the right hand side of this page.

Alternatively, you can view them between 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday at Council’s Administration Office, 243 Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga.

The Gateway Determination is a key assessment point for the planning proposal and is undertaken by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. DPHI will review the strategic and site-specific merit of a proposal and determine whether the planning proposal should proceed. The Gateway Determination is a checkpoint in the process to ensure that planning proposals without strategic merit are stopped before resources are committed.

Council staff will consider the outcomes of the public exhibition of the Planning Proposal in deciding whether to recommend the finalisation of the planning proposal.

A report will be prepared for Council recommending whether the proposal should proceed or not. The outcome will be then sent to DPHI who are responsible for the final decision and finalisation of the Planning Proposal

The proponent will continue to update other technical documentation required by the Gateway Determination.

An authority responsible for the governance of a planning proposal, including its preparation and submission to the Department for a Gateway Determination, satisfying the conditions of a Gateway Determination, public exhibition and its finalisation (including submission to the Department for finalisation, where required).

For this planning proposal, Council is the Planning Proposal Authority (PPA).

A planning proposal is ultimately assessed by the local plan-making authority, after exhibition and once submissions have been received. The authority may be the Minister for Planning (or the minister’s delegate) or local council, depending on the type of LEP change. The local plan-making authority then makes a determination (decision).

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure is the authorised LPMA and will exercise the functions of the local plan-making authority for this planning proposal.

Planning Proposal LEP24/0003 – Southern Growth Area – Zone 1