Kempsey Shire Council Business Breakfast – 21 January 2026
On Tuesday 21 January, four members of the Macleay Valley Business Chamber committee attended the Kempsey Shire Council Business Breakfast, representing our members and the wider business community.
The breakfast provided an important opportunity to hear directly from Council’s executive and senior staff about current challenges, planned improvements, and major projects that will shape development, infrastructure, and economic growth across the Macleay Valley.
Below is a summary of the key takeaways most relevant to local businesses.
Leadership, Direction and Council Priorities
Council’s new CEO, Andrew Meddle, opened the session by outlining his professional background and his focus for Kempsey Shire moving forward. His stated priorities centre on three core themes:
- Employer of choice – improving Council’s ability to attract and retain skilled staff
- Breaking the cycle – addressing long-standing operational and systemic issues
- Liveability – ensuring growth supports a safe, sustainable and inclusive community
Council reaffirmed its long-term vision to 2045:
“From the mountains to the sea, our people are given the opportunities and infrastructure to create a safe, sustainable and inclusive community.”
Development Control Plan (DCP): Major Changes Ahead
A significant portion of the breakfast focused on the new draft Kempsey Development Control Plan (DCP), which is currently on public exhibition.
Key points for business owners and developers:
- The existing DCP is over 10 years old and no longer reflects current legislation or development pressures
- The new DCP is designed to be clearer, more flexible, and easier to update
- It introduces a structured, staged approach to help applicants “self-vet” proposals early
- Technical engineering details have been removed and replaced with references to updated standards (AUS-SPEC, WSAA, Infrastructure Delivery Guide)
The DCP is now organised into five parts:
- Part A – Explanation
- Part B – Shire-wide requirements
- Part C – Place-based requirements
- Part D – Development requirements (including new sections for business, commercial and industrial development)
- Part E – Supporting appendices
Council acknowledged development delays in recent years and outlined steps already underway to improve assessment processes, including staffing, policy reviews, and clearer documentation.
Kempsey Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan 2025
Council also confirmed the adoption of a single, consolidated Infrastructure Contributions Plan for the Shire.
What this means in practice:
- The plan applies to new development only
- Contributions help fund local infrastructure such as roads, parks, drainage, community facilities and public spaces
- Contributions do not cover the full cost of infrastructure — they are one funding source among several
- The plan will be reviewed periodically to reflect growth rates and future priorities
This update is aimed at improving consistency and transparency for developers and the broader community.
Development Assessment Process: What Council Is Expecting
Council walked through the five-stage development assessment process, with a strong emphasis on preparation before lodgement.
For businesses considering development or expansion:
- Early consultation with Council staff is strongly encouraged
- Applications must be complete at lodgement — incomplete DAs risk rejection
- Public exhibition and referrals remain a standard part of the process
- Post-determination approvals (construction certificates, servicing approvals) must be addressed before work begins
Clearer expectations and upfront requirements are intended to reduce delays later in the process.
Water, Sewer and Major Infrastructure Investment
Council’s Water and Sewer team outlined a once-in-a-generation infrastructure program, with approximately $270 million in major projects, including:
- Crescent Head, Willawarrin and SMD water treatment plant upgrades
- Stuarts Point Sewerage Scheme
- Central Kempsey Wastewater Treatment Plant
Much of this funding has been secured through NSW and Australian Government support, with the aim of improving capacity, reliability, and long-term growth readiness across the Shire.
Economic Development and Tourism
Council’s Economic Development & Tourism team shared updates on programs designed to support local business growth, including:
- Business Bootcamp and updated business toolkits
- Investment attraction and prospectus development
- Indigenous employment and skills pathways
- Tourism projects such as the Mulumun Trail and the new Macleay Valley Coast website (launching 2026)
- Continued development of cultural and visitor assets including the Slim Dusty Centre and holiday parks
The focus remains on building confidence, attracting investment, and strengthening the visitor economy while supporting local industry.
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Chamber Next Steps
Your Chamber committee attended this breakfast to ensure local business voices are heard, information is shared clearly, and opportunities for advocacy are identified.
We encourage members to:
- Review the draft DCP while it is on public exhibition
- Raise questions or concerns through the Chamber so they can be escalated collectively by emailing admin@malceayvalleychamber.com.au.
- Stay engaged as these plans move from consultation into implementation
If you would like more detail on any of the topics covered or wish to provide feedback, please contact the Chamber.
