Temporary Workers Accommodation

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1.0   Introduction

 

Temporary Workers accommodation is occasionally required in the Mid-Western Region in response to the need for short term workers accommodation mainly for mining and larger scale projects.

 

Temporary Workers Accommodation for the purposes of this policy does not relate to the typical transient workforce requirements where seasonal accommodation may be required for workers in the local agricultural or tourism sectors.

 

2.0 Area to which the Plan Applies

 

The Development Control Plan – Temporary Workers Accommodation applies to all land within the Mid-Western Local Government Area.  The following Local Environmental Plans also apply to the land:

 

  • Mid-Western Interim Local Environmental Plan 2008;
  • Rylstone Local Environemental Plan 1996; and
  • Merriwa Local Environment Plan 1992.

3.0 Commencement

This DCP commences on 17 February 2012.

4.0 Definitions

Pursuant to the Mid-Western Local Environmental Plan 2008 Temporary Workers Accommodation by its characterisation falls within the definition of  Tourist and Visitor Accommodation.

 

Pursuant to the Rylstone LEP 1996 and the Merriwa LEP 1992 Temporary Workers Accommodation is considered as an innominate use.  An innominate use is one that is not defined by the relevant planning instrument.  Permissibility will be guided by the objectives of the land zone and relevant planning instrument.

 

Attention is drawn to the requirement for this DCP to be read inconjunction with the objectives of the relevant LEP. 

 

For the purposes of this policy a “Temporary Workers Accommodation” is defined as:

 

“Development that provides accommodation and infrastructure for workers associated with mining or other large scale infrastructure projects (the Project) being accommodation of limited intended duration.  The accommodation is not intended to be the principal place of residence but is typically of a temporary “drive-in/drive-out” or “fly-in/fly-out” basis. 

 

The accommodation itself typically consists of individual accommodation units without individual kitchen facilities but with associated amenities including food, drink, laundry and with infrastructure for the disposal of sewerage and other waste.  The duration of the development is related to the life of the Project.”

 

For the purposes of this policy “Legacy Infrastructure” is defined as:

 

”Infrastructure and civil works such as roads, sewer pump stations, or community facilities that have been undertaken to support the installation and use of a site for the purposes of Temporary Workers Accommodation which upon decommissioning of the Temporary Workers Accommodation is transitioned into public ownership for its ongoing use.”  

 

5.0 Relation to Other Environmental Planning Instruments

The DCP is to be read subject to and in association with the LEP and Zone Objectives of the 3 respective Local Environmental Plans that apply to the Local Government Area. 

 

Where there is a an inconsistency between this DCP and other DCP that current apply to the Local Government Area than this DCP shall apply in so far as it relates to development for the purposes of Temporary Workers Accommodation.

6.0 Objectives

 

The objectives of this policy are:

 

  • To ensure that application for the development of Temporary Workers Accommodation are assessed in a consistent, fair and timely manner.
  • To provide guidance to staff, Councillors, landoweners, developers, consultants and the general public regarding the permissibility and criteria for assessment of applications for Temporary Workers Accommodation.
     
  • To provide guidlines that promote the development of Temporary Workers Accommodation in a way that maximises social integration of the workforce and economic benefits whilst minimising social costs.
  • To minimise any negative impacts on the visual residential and/or rural living amenity of surrounding area.
     
  • To ensure that the location of accommodation does not resilt in land use conflict with other existing or any reasonably anticiapted future use of land such as tourism and agriculture.
  • To encourage  the location of Temporary Workers Accommodation at locations that minimises increases in traffic movements including traffic generated by the commute to the major infrastructure project or by servicing.