A review of Kiama's primary planning document is "a healthy thing to do" according to Kiama councillor Dennis Seage.
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The Kiama council chambers briefly resembled Harry Potter's Hogwarts School last week as a hat was used to decide who took the final councillor spot on the committee to review Kiama's Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2011.
In the end the hat, with the help of visiting Kiama MP Gareth Ward, chose Greens councillor Andrew Sloan to join Cr Seage and Cr Mark Honey as the three councillor representatives on the committee after Cr Sloan and Cr Gavin McClure tied on five votes.
The current Kiama LEP was adopted in December 2011 after a lengthy process involving 1337 public submissions.
Cr Seage said "a few things had been identified" that some councillors believed needed review, including issues that had arisen from the proposed development of Cedar Ridge at Kiama.
Cr Seage also believed some zonings had proven "too rigid", such as the B7 business zoning that ruled out fitness centres being established in these areas.
"The committee will look at everything very carefully, from heights to zonings," Cr Seage said.
The council resolved to have the committee finalise its review by August 2016, in time for the next local government elections in September.
However the council voted against a request from Cr Kathy Rice to circulate the review committee's minutes to the Jamberoo Ratepayers and Residents Association, the Minnamurra Progress Association and the South Precinct upon adoption by council.
Cr Seage said given the 14-month timeframe, he suggested representatives from these organisations apply for the community positions on the committee.
"There will be a lot of community consultation ... we will be tweaking what needs to be tweaked," Cr Seage said.
Cr Sloan said he didn't think there were any major issues with the current LEP, and believed it would be "a minor review".
"At the moment the planning laws are uncertain ... we don't want to make wholesale changes if we are unsure of the legislative environment we are working in," Cr Sloan said.
Council staff said the purpose of the committee would be to provide a forum for communication between the council, the community, and relevant groups to review the current LEP.
Council is inviting expressions of interest from community members to join the review committee.
Expressions of interest close on Thursday, June 4, with details on the council's website.
aarnold@fairfaxmedia.com.au
