newy.com.au – Development applications for land immediately surrounding the New Lambton landslip zone would have to address the risk of future ground movement under new planning controls proposed by City of Newcastle.
The changes, due before councillors on 22 September, would apply to land identified as potentially susceptible to movement. They would add requirements for assessing and designing future development to manage that risk, alongside existing landslide controls.
Council says ongoing monitoring has not recorded any significant movement or trends indicating that the landslip zone has grown.
The proposal follows a detailed geotechnical investigation completed after the May 2025 natural disaster. City of Newcastle says that investigation confirmed the event as Australia’s largest residential landslip.
A new landslip risk map and clause would be added to the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012, which sets planning rules for development across the city. Council has contacted owners whose properties may be affected to explain and discuss the proposed changes, and held a public briefing for councillors and the community on Tuesday evening.
Endorsement at the September meeting would not be the final approval. The proposal would first go to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for a gateway determination, the state assessment that decides whether a planning proposal can proceed.
If approved by the NSW Government, the changes would be publicly exhibited. Affected property owners, nearby landowners and the wider community would be able to make submissions, which council would consider before making a final decision.
The planning changes are separate from the work needed to stabilise the existing landslip site, where further investigations are under way and the timing of a funding program remains unsettled.
City of Newcastle has begun new geotechnical investigations to help plan long term stabilisation. Detailed design work will establish the extent of the area requiring those measures, with planning to continue into 2027 to determine the most appropriate approach.
Council is continuing discussions with the NSW Reconstruction Authority about funding for stabilisation work and compensation to affected residents. It described those discussions as positive, but said the timing of an approved funding program was still to be determined.
