Overview of progressing the Kempsey Development Control Plan (DCP)

Since conducting a series of community publicity, discussion and workshops Council have been developing a revised Development Control Plan document to address the issues, gaps and outdated regulation that were identified with the current aging (DCP 2013) document. As a result of this significant work, a substantially reorganised draft DCP has now been developed to provide a streamlined document. This guide is to assist; advocates, professionals, businesses, property owners and Council — follow clear, step-by-step processes for all parts of local development that need to be considered when applying for development approval. This document has now been approved for public exhibition following the December 2025 Council Meeting.

Ordinary Council Meeting - 16 December 2025

At the December Council Meeting, Council considered Item 10.2, Draft Kempsey Development Control Plan for Public Exhibition, and resolved that Council:

1. approves the revised draft Kempsey Development Control Plan (KDCP) 2026 to proceed to Public Exhibition; and
2. approves a Public Exhibition period through to 10 February 2026, noting that the mandatory period of twenty-eight (28) days commences from 13 January 2026.

DCP Document Layout

Part A – An introductory explanation.

Part B – Addressing critical ‘shire-wide’ requirements, around natural hazard risk, environmental issues, infrastructure and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage where applicable.

Part C – Place specific requirements, where these apply to development within individual heritage and character localities, places and settlements.

Part D – Development requirements in stand-alone sections that cover planning requirements for each development type; residential, rural, commercial and industrial, and

Part E – Supporting information to assist DCP document users with a glossary of planning terms, references sources and supplementary details on heritage items, new areas, parking, landscape and on-site wastewater treatment.

Through this draft DCP we seek to promote the preservation of the valued character of Kempsey’s natural landscape and built environments and support a variety of development that will sustain our Community and Shire into the future.

Local participation

We appreciate the interest and comments from various stakeholders to date, and the substantial discussion and workshopping of this draft DCP undertaken across Council’s specialist teams including Development Assessment, Building Services, Engineering Design, Water and Sewer, Heritage and others that has helped to shape and review this draft document. We will continue to engage throughout the exhibition period and provide updates where necessary.

Opportunity to have your say

Council has now placed the draft document on full public exhibition from Thursday 18 December 2025 to Tuesday 10 February 2026. This exhibition period extends beyond the mandatory 28 days to allow sufficient time for community review, as the “blackout period” from 15 December to 14 January (inclusive) is excluded when calculating public exhibition time. The community is encouraged to provide feedback. You can view the Draft Kempsey Development Control Plan 2026 here, with physical copies available in our libraries and at the customer service counter.

Submissions can be made on the draft documents, completing the online submission (below) including uploading any attachments; by email to ksc@kempsey.nsw.gov.au, handed into our customer service counter or mailed to:

The Chief Executive Officer

Kempsey Shire Council

PO Box 3078

West Kempsey NSW 2440

The exhibition period closes, close of business Tuesday 10 February 2026.