Kings Forest development
Location Part 3A approval Lodging a DA – Precinct 5 Exempt development Complying development Future project applications
Kings Forest is going to be one of the largest projects for new housing and employment in the Tweed in the next 25 years.
In November 2006 Kings Forest was listed as a State Significant Site under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Development) 2005.
This had the effect of nominating the applicable zoning which applies to the whole site as well as nominating specific controls which affect all future development at the King Forest site.
Kings Forest is identified in the state government’s North Coast Regional Plan 2036 and Council’s Tweed Urban and Employment Lands Release Strategy 2009.
See Kings forest zoning plan(PDF, 542KB)
Location
The Kings Forest site is located on the far north coast of NSW, about 20 km south of the Queensland and NSW border.
Bogangar and Cabarita Beach lie to the south beyond Cudgen Lake. Cudgen and Kingscliff lie to the north. Casuarina lies to the east across the Tweed Coast Road. Cudgen Nature Reserve adjoins the site on the eastern perimeter.
Tweed Coast Road (a Council road) runs north to south and is the main arterial road connecting to the development. The RTA controlled Pacific Highway runs to the west, no access to this road is proposed.
See Kings forest locality plan(PDF, 157KB)
Part 3A approval by State Government
Following State Significant Site declaration and inclusion in Schedule 3 of the Major Projects SEPP, the development proponents LEDA Manorstead Pty Ltd requested the NSW Minister for Planning to authorise lodgement of a Concept Plan for the urban and recreational development of the site.
The NSW Minister for the Planning took over the role as the consent authority for the assessment of the initial concept plan and the initial project applications under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
The Part 3A process is quite different to the local development consent administered by local councils. Apart from the zoning changes, the main form of planning and environmental assessment was managed by the NSW Department of Planning. The development proponents submitted concept plans which were publicly submitted, and required substantial liaison with Tweed Shire Council.
On the 9 January 2007, the Minister authorised the lodgement of a concept plan for the Kings Forest site.
Development proposed as part of the concept plan
- A new mixed, residential, commercial, community use redevelopment.
- Fourteen residential precincts with a mix of housing types including town houses, terraces, plexes, zero lot dwellings, and traditional detached dwellings comprising 4,500 dwellings (a new population of over 11,000 residents) covering approximately 437 hectares of net developable land.
- A mixed-use town Centre and 2 neighbourhood centres with building heights of 2–3 storeys with a combined land area of approximately 10 hectares.
- Community and education facilities over 12.7 hectares of land.
- Employment land covering 3.4 hectares of land.
- A golf course covering 69 hectares of land that also acts as a buffer between the environmental protection areas and the residential development.
- Active (approximately 17 hectares) and passive open spaces.
- Environmental protection areas covering 300 hectares of land.
- Access network of roads, public transport routes and pedestrian/cycle paths.
- Landscaping and vegetation management.
- Water management areas and lakes.
- Utility services infrastructure.
The Minister for Planning granted Part 3A approval for the concept plan for Kings Forest in August 2010. Modifications to the plan were then subsequently approved in December 2010 and August 2013.
View the Kings Forest Concept Plan(PDF, 1MB)
Links to the approval documents can be found under the determination documents section of the relevant NSW Planning and Infrastructure website.
As part of the concept plan process, the Minister approved a new site-specific development code, which generally incorporates the main planning, subdivision and engineering controls which apply to the site.
A link to the approved Kings Forest Development Code can be found on the determination documents section of the relevant NSW Planning and Infrastructure Major Projects website.
Development proposed as part of the first Project Application
The approved concept plan provides the future framework for development but does not authorise any specific development and accordingly to undertake a future specific development proposal the applicant must apply to the NSW Minister for a project application. Kings Forest was granted its first project application in August 2013.
The approved application authorised the following development:
- subdivision to create 10 new master lots for future development purposes
- bulk earthworks across the site
- roadworks to facilitate the development of Precinct 5 (including a revised entrance road off Tweed Coast Road)
- infrastructure works
- development of Precinct 1 (on the eastern side of Tweed Coast Road for a rural supplies development (2036m2)
- development of Precinct 5 to create 376 Torrens title allotments which will be capable of accommodating 425 residential dwellings across the precinct
- landscaping of Precinct 1 and 5
- drainage maintenance
- environmental management and dedication of some land to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services.
See Kings Forest Precinct 5(PDF, 963KB)
The entire range of plans, information and documentation for the project application can be found on the Major Projects Register - NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure. Copies of the lodgement documentation of these development applications can also be found on Council’s Property Enquiry/DA Tracker by typing the development application number DA11/0565.
See Kings Forest Precinct 1(PDF, 1017KB)
Lodging a development application in Precinct 5
If you are lodging a development application in Precinct 5, refer to the following documents:
Exempt development at Kings Forest
Exempt development allows certain minor development with minor environmental impacts to be carried out without the need for a CDC or development consent, provided they meet the standards in Part A, Section 2.1 Exempt Development of the Kings Forest Development Code.
It generally applies to small‑scale works such as fences, decks, landscaping, and minor outbuildings that meet prescribed size, location, and environmental criteria. Works that do not meet these standards, or are affected by site constraints, may require approval as complying development or by way of a development application.
To find a suitably qualified planning consultant for further advice as to whether your development is exempt development, visit Council’s development advice and enquiries page.
Complying development at Kings Forest
Complying development provides a fast‑track approval option for eligible development in Kings Forest.
A complying development certificate (CDC) can be issued by Council or an accredited certifier without a full development application, where proposals meet the relevant standards in Part A, Section 2.2 Complying Development of the Kings Forest Development Code.
It generally applies to residential accommodation and some commercial and industrial development that complies with requirements for setbacks, height, site coverage, and other standards. If a development does not comply with the relevant standards, then you may require a development application.
To find an accredited certifier, visit Council’s development advice and enquiries page.
Future project applications (Council's role)
Following the initial Part 3A approvals (concept plan and the first project application), it is now expected that the development assessment role will mostly be undertaken by Tweed Shire Council.
Given the scale of the likely future applications, the consent authority is likely to be the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP), not Council. Council officers will report on these applications to the NRPP for their determination at a public meeting.