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Why has Council prepared a Draft Place Strategy for the Cessnock Vineyards District?
The Draft Place Strategy aims to guide development in the Cessnock Vineyards District, ensuring it fits with the area's future character.
It's required by the Hunter Regional Plan 2041, which designates the Vineyards District as a Regionally Significant Growth Area (RSGA) due to growing demand for tourism, housing, and non-agricultural development.
The strategy aligns state and local planning goals and offers updated guidelines for future development in the district.
What previous community engagement and consultation has been done on theCessnock Vineyards District?
In April 2019, the Community Reference Group was established by Council to provide local knowledge and advice regarding possible changes to the local planning framework relating to the Vineyard’s District. The CRG includes representation from Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, Parish of Pokolbin, Around Hermitage, Lovedale Chamber of Commerce, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Property Council of Australia, Singleton Council, landowners, vignerons, property developers, wine tourism professionals and town planning consultants.
Several meetings of the CRG have occurred since 2019, including most recently on 4 March 2025, and have culminated in the preparation of this report and draft local policy framework for the Vineyards District.
The Vineyard's District Community Survey was open for a period of six weeks in August and September of 2019. A total of 454 people responded to the survey. The features most highly valued by respondents were grape vines, cellar doors and scenic views. The least valued features were residential housing estates, short-term rental accommodation and shops. The results of the community survey assisted in the development of the LCS and amendments to the LEP.
What are the Key Elements of the Draft Place Strategy?
Character statements
Character statements are created for each of the four key areas in the Cessnock Vineyards District: Important Agricultural Land, Visually Sensitive Land, Tourist Centre and Nodes, and Important Environmental Land. These statements provide a brief overview of what’s important in each area and guide land use and development in those areas.
Active Transport Improvements
To help the wine and tourism industry grow in the Cessnock Vineyards District, it's important to improve transportation, including cycling routes and roads connecting key tourist spots, accommodation, and other areas. These improvements should enhance transport without harming the rural charm of tree-lined roads and agricultural landscapes.
Land Use Principles, consistency measures and planning actions
The Draft Place Strategy outlines land use guidelines for the Cessnock Vineyards District and shows how rezoning proposals can align with these guidelines. It also lists important actions needed to put the strategy into the local planning system.
Important Documents:
Click on the links below to view the important documents relating to this project:
Have a question for the project team? We're hosting a Pop Up Info Session on Monday 14 April from 3 - 5 pm at Pokolbin Community Hall (126 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin)
The Draft Vineyards District Place Strategy will be on public exhibition from Friday 28 March 2025 through Friday 9 May 2025 and submissions are invited from the community.
You can also view hard copies of the Draft Vineyards District Place Strategy 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 via:
Why has Council prepared a Draft Place Strategy for the Cessnock Vineyards District?
The Draft Place Strategy aims to guide development in the Cessnock Vineyards District, ensuring it fits with the area's future character.
It's required by the Hunter Regional Plan 2041, which designates the Vineyards District as a Regionally Significant Growth Area (RSGA) due to growing demand for tourism, housing, and non-agricultural development.
The strategy aligns state and local planning goals and offers updated guidelines for future development in the district.
What previous community engagement and consultation has been done on theCessnock Vineyards District?
In April 2019, the Community Reference Group was established by Council to provide local knowledge and advice regarding possible changes to the local planning framework relating to the Vineyard’s District. The CRG includes representation from Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, Parish of Pokolbin, Around Hermitage, Lovedale Chamber of Commerce, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Property Council of Australia, Singleton Council, landowners, vignerons, property developers, wine tourism professionals and town planning consultants.
Several meetings of the CRG have occurred since 2019, including most recently on 4 March 2025, and have culminated in the preparation of this report and draft local policy framework for the Vineyards District.
The Vineyard's District Community Survey was open for a period of six weeks in August and September of 2019. A total of 454 people responded to the survey. The features most highly valued by respondents were grape vines, cellar doors and scenic views. The least valued features were residential housing estates, short-term rental accommodation and shops. The results of the community survey assisted in the development of the LCS and amendments to the LEP.
What are the Key Elements of the Draft Place Strategy?
Character statements
Character statements are created for each of the four key areas in the Cessnock Vineyards District: Important Agricultural Land, Visually Sensitive Land, Tourist Centre and Nodes, and Important Environmental Land. These statements provide a brief overview of what’s important in each area and guide land use and development in those areas.
Active Transport Improvements
To help the wine and tourism industry grow in the Cessnock Vineyards District, it's important to improve transportation, including cycling routes and roads connecting key tourist spots, accommodation, and other areas. These improvements should enhance transport without harming the rural charm of tree-lined roads and agricultural landscapes.
Land Use Principles, consistency measures and planning actions
The Draft Place Strategy outlines land use guidelines for the Cessnock Vineyards District and shows how rezoning proposals can align with these guidelines. It also lists important actions needed to put the strategy into the local planning system.
Important Documents:
Click on the links below to view the important documents relating to this project:
Have a question for the project team? We're hosting a Pop Up Info Session on Monday 14 April from 3 - 5 pm at Pokolbin Community Hall (126 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin)
The Draft Vineyards District Place Strategy will be on public exhibition from Friday 28 March 2025 through Friday 9 May 2025 and submissions are invited from the community.
You can also view hard copies of the Draft Vineyards District Place Strategy 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 via:
