BETWEEN $100,000 and $200,000 is likely to be spent on a consultant to prepare the shire’s final rural lands strategy.
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Eurobodalla Shire Council has spent the past three years developing the strategy, which will dictate how rural land is used throughout the shire.
The strategy process began in 2012 after an outcry of community dissent about controversial environmental E3 overlays in the council’s Local Environment Plan (LEP).
Council then deferred 46.5 per cent of private rural land from the LEP and called for a review.
The strategy will be used to resolve zoning of the deferred lands and other relevant planning provisions, such as environmental overlays.
The council further resolved in July 2014 that it not use E3 environmental management zoning for rural lands on the basis of significant community opposition.
Council is now nearing the end of the nine-stage development of the strategy.
The process has so far involved the establishment of a steering committee, the creation of a rural lands issues paper and a major study undertaken by a consultant.
The council last month released for public comment its policy directions paper, which will form the basis of the final strategy.
It covers seven themes; encourage primary production, cut red tape, support economic development, promote and grow rural tourism, promote sustainable resource use, recognise and manage environmental hazards and value and support rural residential living opportunities.
Councillors last week voted to again engage a consultant to develop the final strategy, based on community feedback on the policy directions paper.
Six consultants expressed interest in the project in a tender process.
The name of the successful bidder has not yet been released.
Fees for both shortlisted consultants were within the $100,000 to $200,000 range.
A report presented to council said funds were available to undertake the project and that the preferred tender represented “good value for money”.
Councillor Liz Innes opposed the use of a consultant to develop the strategy.
“We have the staff within council to do it,” she said.
“We should not engage a consultant that will cost between $100,000 and $200,000.”
Submissions on the policy directions paper close May 27.
