Community grants on offer

THE council is seeking applications for this year's community grants program. Not-for-profit sporting, cultural and community groups within the Derwent Valley municipal area are eligible to apply for assistance under this program.

The council will give preference to groups which have broad community benefit, seeking amounts in the range of $200 to $500.

The closing date for applications is February 8, 2016. Application packages can be collected from the Derwent Valley Council offices, Circle St, New Norfolk, or downloaded.

Australia Day program

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Call for comments on credit card policy

THE council has developed a draft Credit Card Usage Policy and seeks public feedback prior to the policy being adopted. Comments are invited in writing, addressed to the General Manager, and will be received up to Wednesday 10 February 2016.   Please click here for the  Draft - Credit Card Usage Policy

Council meeting this Thursday

THE first council meeting for 2016 will be held at the New Norfolk Courthouse in Circle St this Thursday night, starting at 6.30pm and you are very welcome to join us. If you would like any assistance or information about the meeting, please do get in touch.

The meeting agenda is available online and in hardcopy from the council chambers.

Have your say on the new planning scheme

THE Derwent Valley Interim Planning Scheme 2015 was declared by the Minister for Planning on 25 November 2015 under section 30F of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 and came into operation on 16 December 2015. It relates to all of the Derwent Valley local government area. It comprises the ordinance and plans which describe in detail the area to which the interim planning scheme applies. The interim planning scheme replaces the New Norfolk Planning Scheme 1993 which ceased to have effect on 16 December 2015.

The Derwent Valley Interim Planning Scheme 2015 will be exhibited for public comment (representations) by Council from Saturday 16 January 2016 until Monday 29 February 2016. A copy of the interim planning scheme is available to view in a number of ways:

• On the State Government’s iplan website, where the scheme can be read through an ebook, or a PDF can be downloaded, at www.iplan.tas.gov.au ;
  
• On the council website Derwent Valley Interim Planning Scheme 2015 ;
  
• At the Council offices, 1 Circle St, New Norfolk; 
• At the Tasmanian Planning Commission office, level 3, 144 Macquarie St, Hobart.
  

 Members of the public may also call in to the following information drop-in session:

• New Norfolk Court House, Circle St, New Norfolk, Thursday 4 February 2016, 2-7.30pm.
  

Any person may make a representation to the council on the interim planning scheme during this period. There are several ways to make a representation:

• Online through the State Government’s iplan website using the ‘Make a Submission" function, at www.iplan.tas.gov.au ;
  
• By email to council at: dvcouncil@dvc.tas.gov.au or jadlard@dvc.tas.gov.au ;
  
• By general mail to council: PO Box 595, New Norfolk 7140;
  

•  hand delivered to Council's offices at 1 Circle Street, New Norfolk

Inquiries can be directed to Mr Damian Mackey on 6259 3011 or email dmackey@southernmidlands.tas.gov.au.

The council has three months from the close of public exhibition to report to the Commission on the representations received and the operation of the interim planning scheme generally.

Interim Planning Scheme

DERWENT VALLEY COUNCIL
MEDIA RELEASE

Derwent Valley Council Interim Planning Scheme

Friday, 15 January 2016

Derwent Valley Council Mayor Martyn Evans today announced that the Derwent Valley Council’s new Interim Planning Scheme is operational.

The Derwent Valley Interim Planning Scheme 2015 was declared and gazetted by Minister Peter Gutwein on the 25 November 2015 and became operational on the 16 December 2015. This milestone represents a positive step forward after a long period of strategic and administrative reforms in order to standardise planning processes across the state.

The New Norfolk Council Planning Scheme 1993 ceased to have effect on the 16 December 2015. However, any valid permit application received by close of business on the 15 December 2015 will still be determined under this scheme.

Public exhibition of the Derwent Valley Interim Planning Scheme 2015 will commence on 16 January 2016, with the closing date for representations being 2 March 2016. Further details will be published in the Mercury newspaper during this period.

Mayor Evans said “it brings the Derwent Valley Municipal area into line with the other 28 municipal areas within Tasmania who have now implemented their new planning schemes. The Council is looking forward to working with the State Government towards the completion of the single statewide planning scheme.”