Camden Council's Natural Assets Policy

Camden Council's Natural Assets Policy was adopted 12th May 2003

Purpose of the policy

1. Integrate the regulatory requirements of state natural resource management legislation and policies including:

  • Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
  • Fisheries Management Act – Habitat protection Plan No. 3 – The Hawkesbury Nepean River System
  • Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995
  • Planning for Bushfire Protection (PlanningNSW & NSWRFS)
  • Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 20 Hawkesbury – Nepean River 1987.
  • Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act; and

Note: This Policy does not replace existing State Legislation/Policy. In the case of any inconsistency between this Policy and relevant State Legislation and Policies – The State legislation/policies prevails.

2. Provide guidance for the development , redevelopment and subdivision of land which may impact on natural assets.

Aims and Objectives

The principal objectives of this policy are to

  • Facilitate ecologically sustainable development through the substantial retention and long term management of natural assets* in Camden
  • Protect the environment of the Camden Local Government Area (LGA) by ensuring that the impacts of future land uses are considered in a cumulative and total catchment management context
  • Protect and conserve and restore native vegetation in parcels of a size, quality and configuration which will enable the existing plant and animal communities to survive in the long term
  • Maintain the natural hydrological processes of the landscape to ensure the survival of aquatic ecosystems and the mitigation of salinity risk and
  • Provide an off-setting mechanism to provide flexibility in the implementation of this policy.

*Natural Assets
The stock of soil, freshwater, clean air and vegetation and other resources that underpins survival, health and prosperity of human communities.