South West Rocks building heights confirmed

Published on 20 June 2024

The South West Rocks community have more clarity around the future look of their village with the passing of height limits by the NSW government.

The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has approved an application to amend South West Rock’s building heights which will take effect from Friday 21 June 2024.

The planning application from Kempsey Shire Council proposed a change to the Kempsey Local Environment Plan to enforce an 8.5m or 11m height limit to properties that did not previously have a height limit attached to them.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure have amended Council’s recommendation by changing the proposed 8.5m building height limit to 11m for three ‘Key Sites’ within South West Rocks. These Key Sites are:

• South West Rocks Country Club,
• South West Rocks Surf Life Saving Club, and
• Lot 2 DP 1091323, Phillip Drive (known as the Rise Development site).

As an additional safeguard, the Minister included a design excellence clause to ensure that any development on these Key Sites exhibits design excellence that contributes to the natural, cultural, visual and built character values of South West Rocks.

A ‘savings provision’ has also been included by the Minister which means that any development application lodged before these new building height limit comes into force does not need to comply with the new building height, even if it has not yet been granted approval.  

The amendments to the Kempsey Local Environment Plan will take effect when published on the NSW Legislation website.  This is expected to occur on Friday 21 June 2024.

The Plan, which is an act of parliament, and the associated mapping will be updated on the NSW Legislation website soon after.