(a) To ensure that development is compatible with the rural and natural landscape and heritage of the locality.
(b) To avoid further fragmentation and loss of usable rural land; to encourage consolidation of small lots and resubdivision of existing holdings where the existing subdivision pattern is not appropriate or is unrelated to existing topography and natural constraints.
(c) To retain the low density of rural settlement and ensure that development does not create unreasonable, uneconomic or environmentally damaging demands for the provision of services.
(d) To maintain safety and convenience along main roads by discouraging uses that are likely to generate traffic volumes that disrupt traffic flow.
(e) To avoid ribbon development.
(f) To provide for the requirements of the rural community.
6.2 Zone: Bushland Conservation (BC)
(a) To conserve the natural bushland character of the landscape surrounding the existing urban areas of the City and minimise the visual impact of development on the landscape, particularly when viewed from the Blue Mountains National Park.
(b) To protect the natural bushland buffer zones between towns, to avoid ribbon development and to conserve and enhance the views and vistas of natural bushland obtained from the Great Western Highway and the Great Western Railway, public places, lookouts and areas within the Blue Mountains National Park.
(c) To ensure that the form and siting of buildings, colours, landscaping and building materials are appropriate for, and harmonise with, the bushland character of the areas.
(d) To provide only for development that utilises and retains the natural bushland on the site as an important feature of the development.
(e) To ensure that development in bushfire prone areas is carried out so that effective bushfire management can be implemented within the property boundaries with appropriate environmental controls.
(f) To encourage landscaping and regeneration of natural bushland in areas with sparse tree or canopy cover.
(a) To ensure that all development including subdivision is environmentally sensitive and site responsive and maintains and facilitates sustainable natural ecosystems and biodiversity within the Blue Mountains.
(b) To utilise best practice water management techniques—
• to protect, and where practicable to improve, existing perennial and non-perennial watercourses and the associated riparian zone, and
• to protect, and where practicable to improve, water quality, and
• to maintain pre-development downstream flow patterns, and
• to promote ecologically sustainable water and land management practices.
(c) To establish an appropriate landscape character by encouraging the preservation, regeneration and re-establishment of native bushland, where practicable.
(d) To ensure that the form and siting of development, and the building materials, colours, and landscaping utilised in that development, are each appropriate for, and harmonise with, the bushland character of the area in which the development is to take place.
(e) To ensure bushfire protection measures are adequate to protect proposed development and are able to be implemented without unacceptable adverse environmental impacts.
(f) To ensure that non-residential land uses are compatible with the residential character of the area in which development is proposed.
6.4 Zone: Residential Investigation (RES-I)
(a) To identify land suitable for consideration by the Council for rezoning for future residential development and, in the case of Hawkesbury Road, Winmalee and Mort Street, Katoomba, for a range of urban uses.
(b) To ensure that development within the zone is compatible with, and does not prejudice the anticipated future development of, the land.
(c) To conserve the natural bushland character of the landscape surrounding the existing urban areas of the City.
(d) To ensure that rezoning does not precede a detailed environmental investigation of a contiguous area zoned Residential Investigation shown edged on the Map.
6.5 Zone: Light Industries (IND-LT)
(a) to provide for a range of light industrial land uses, compatible with the environment of the City.
(b) To encourage employment opportunities.
6.6 Zone: Recreation (REC)
(a) To provide for active recreational requirements of the City.
(b) To ensure that recreational development is environmentally sensitive and site responsive.
(a) To protect environmentally sensitive land and areas of high scenic value in the City from development.
(b) To provide a buffer around areas of natural ecological significance.
(c) To restrict development on land that is inappropriate by reason of physical characteristics or high bushfire hazard.
(d) To encourage the restoration of disturbed bushland areas.
(e) To provide for the acquisition of this land.
6.10 Zone: National Park (NP)
(a) To maintain the spectacular natural environment of the Blue Mountains.
(b) To facilitate the management of the Blue Mountains National Park in accordance with the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and the Blue Mountains National Park Plan of Management.
6.11 Zone: Regional Open Space (R)
(a) To enhance and protect the unique natural and scenic environment of the Blue Mountains.
(b) To provide greater opportunities for passive recreation in the Blue Mountains.