Draft Villages Strategy
Project Information
Council has prepared a Draft Villages Strategy which is now on exhibition until Monday 16 June 2025.
Why have we prepared the Draft Villages Strategy?
Our villages are an important part of our history, and they support thriving communities. Many of our villages exist in rural or environmental settings. This important quality reflects their histories and provides ‘breaks’ between one village and the next.
The purpose of the draft Strategy is to reflect on the villages within the LGA and seek to understand the important features and characteristics that make them unique. By doing so, we gain a better understanding of their existing local character and how they may look and feel into the future.
The draft Strategy responds to goals, priorities and actions of the adopted Community Strategic Plan (CSP) and Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS).
Draft Villages Strategy Summary
The draft Villages Strategy addresses the villages of Greta, Kearsley, Mulbring, North Rothbury and Wollombi / Laguna. These villages have been selected within the first version of the draft strategy as they act as entry points into the LGA, or are tourism nodes in their own rights. The draft strategy recommends that the remaining villages are included in future iterations of the strategy.
The draft strategy seeks to establish local character statements for the subject villages, in terms of their current character, and a desired future character. Additionally, a range of actions are included within the draft strategy to embed and support the character statements, create a sense of community, and enhance the environmental, social and economic prosperity of the villages.
These include (but are not limited to):
- proposed amendments to Cessnock Local Environmental Plan 2011 (CLEP 2011) and/or Development Control Plan 2010 (DCP 2010);
- actions to advocate for specific projects and/or support local community groups;
- actions to improve safety, mobility and/or alternative transport opportunities; and
- development of concept plans for areas of local open space.
What consultation have we already undertaken?
Initial consultation was undertaken in 2022. This included opportunities to participate in online surveys, mapping and provide commentary on a discussion paper and summaries of the elements which contribute to local character for each of the villages within the LGA.
The initial consultation material and summary of feedback is available by clicking here.
The feedback received through this initial consultation program has been used to prepare the current draft Strategy.
Important Documents
Pop Up Information Sessions
Keen to hear more or have more questions about this project? Join the team for an in person pop up at the sessions listed below:
- Wollombi - Information Board (At the intersection of Great North Rd & Wollombi Rd, Wollombi) from 2:30 pm - 4 pm on Monday 19 May 2025
- Greta - Greta Central Oval (37 Nelson St, Greta NSW 2334) from 3 pm - 4:30 pm on Monday 26 May 2025
- North Rothbury - Ayrfield Miners Memorial Park (Corner of Morgan and Rothbury Streets, North Rothbury) from 2:30 - 4 pm on Monday 2 June 2025
- Kearsley - George Jeffery Park (Caledonia St, Kearsley NSW 2325) 3:30 pm - 5 pm on Thursday 5 June 2025
- Mulbring - Mulbring Hall (2 Stone St, Mulbring NSW 2323) from 4 pm - 5 pm on Saturday 14 June 2025
How to make a submission
The Draft Villages Strategy will be on public exhibition until Monday 16 June 2025 and submissions are invited from the community.
You can also view hard copies of the document at:
- Council’s Administration Building (Customer Relations Section);
- Cessnock City Library;
- Kurri Kurri Library
You can make a submission using the online form located below or by clicking this link.
Written submissions should be addressed to The General Manager and will be accepted up until 5.00pm Monday 16 June 2025 via:
- Email to council@cessnock.nsw.gov.au ;
- In person: over the counter at Cessnock City Council Administration building: 62-78 Vincent St, Cessnock NSW 2325
- Post to PO Box 152, CESSNOCK NSW 2325
