4 
2 
2
Moss Vale is a suburb of approximately 79.56 square kilometres within the Wingecarribee Shire Council, forming part of the Illawarra region in New South Wales, located 142km south-west of Sydney and 159 kilometres (99 mi) north-east of Canberra.
Moss Vale was first explored by Europeans in the late 1700s. The town's development was spurred by Charles Throsby’s land grant at Bong Bong and the early road network. Moss Vale began to form as a township in 1864 when part of the Throsby Park estate was subdivided in anticipation of the new railway. The local station opened in 1867 as Sutton Forest and was renamed Moss Vale in 1877, with the railway and contemporary land reforms driving the town's early growth.
The suburb is bounded by property lines to the south and east (with Kellys Creek forming part of the eastern boundary), the Illawarra Highway to the west, and the Wingecarribee River and property boundaries to the north.
Argyle Street, Yarrawa Road, and the Illawarra Highway form the primary north-south corridor through the centre of Moss Vale. The Illawarra and Nowra Highways provide connections to the east, while Berrima Road links to the west. The Main Southern railway line runs through the heart of the suburb in a north-south direction.
The western and central portions of Moss Vale comprise the urban township, which features schools, a mix of residential densities, retail and commercial areas, parks, and a golf course. The northern part of the urban area is dedicated to industrial uses, while the southeastern and southwestern areas consist of agricultural and rural land.
Moss Vale - Sydney–Canberra Corridor Regional Strategy 2008
The Sydney–Canberra Corridor Regional Strategy 2008 was officially endorsed in August 2008 and has since guided key land use planning decisions, including the development of the Wingecarribee Development Control Plans (WDCP) 2010.
Original Strategy Objectives:
- Promote diverse housing (including for an ageing population).
- Concentrate growth in existing towns (Moss Vale to provide 1400 new greenfield lots).
- Protect drinking water catchments (neutral/beneficial effect on quality).
- Plan for employment lands (Moss Vale–Berrima Enterprise Corridor).
- Safeguard biodiversity and environmental corridors.
- Limit rural residential development to protect agricultural land.
- Preserve heritage and rural character.
- Integrate infrastructure with new development.
- Apply neighbourhood planning principles (access to jobs, transport, services).
Moss Vale - Wingecarribee Local Environmental Plan 2010 (WLEP 2010)
The Wingecarribee Local Environmental Plan 2010 (WLEP 2010) was gazetted on 16 June 2010 (latest amendment gazetted on 19 September 2025) and the planning document developed by the Wingecarribee Shire Council in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. It provides the planning framework for land use and development within the Moss Vale area.
Key Purposes of the WLEP 2010:
- Keep towns and villages surrounded by farmland and bushland (no urban sprawl).
- Protect biodiversity, water quality, scenic landscapes, and heritage (Aboriginal & European).
- Support agriculture and stop splitting up viable rural land.
- Focus new housing and jobs near existing town centres with good services and transport.
- Encourage arts, culture, tourism, and sustainable economic growth.
- Reduce bushfire and flood risk.
Provide a mix of housing types (including affordable) without harming the environment.
Draft DCP for Wingecarribee Shire 2025
The primary goals of this project are to:
- Consolidate and Simplify: Combine 17 separate DCPs (which can be complex and confusing) into one comprehensive document, making the development rules clearer and easier to understand for residents, builders, and developers.
- Streamline Development: Create a more consistent and efficient process for assessing development applications across the Shire.
- Retain and Enhance Character: Keep the existing rules that protect the unique character of the Shire's towns, villages, and rural landscapes, while updating and enhancing them where necessary.
What the New DCP Will Cover
The new DCP will provide objectives and controls for a wide range of developments, including:
- Low Density Housing: Houses, dual occupancies, granny flats, pools, and studios.
- Medium Density Housing: Townhouses and residential flat buildings.
- Heritage: Changes to heritage items and buildings in conservation areas.
- Town Centres: New buildings, land uses, and public spaces to create vibrant and safe streets.
- Seniors Housing: Ensuring compatibility with surroundings and high amenity.
- Rural Development: Protecting agricultural land and maintaining visual quality.
- Natural Environments: Protecting water quality, biodiversity, and vegetation.
- Industrial Development: Supporting employment while ensuring positive streetscape contributions.
- Subdivisions: Guidance for residential, industrial, and large-scale new living areas.
Current Status (As of the Provided Information)
The project is currently in an active development phase.
Latest Milestone (June 18, 2025): The Wingecarribee Shire Council provided "in principle" support for the Draft DCP Template. This template is the structure and outline of the new DCP, not the final detailed document.
Current Phase: Council is now in the "Preparation of Draft DCP and targeted consultation" phase. This means they are writing the detailed content for the DCP based on the approved template and consulting with specific stakeholder groups.
Future Steps: The draft DCP will later be endorsed for a formal public exhibition period, where the entire community will have the opportunity to review the full document and provide formal feedback before it is finally adopted.
Moss Vale - Wingecarribee Development Control Plans
The Wingecarribee Development Control Plans provide the planning and design framework for the development the use of land within the Shire, providing guidelines for evaluating development proposals, specifying requirements for different land uses, and aims to ensure that new developments consider environmental, community, and economic factors while fitting the local context.
Key Features
Based on the Moss Vale Master Plan, developed by Queanbeyan City Council using CIC Australia's plan.
Prepared in line with Clause 6.3 of the Queanbeyan Local Environmental Plan 2012 (QLEP 2012), which requires a DCP before development consent can be granted in Moss Vale.
Sets out urban design guidelines, land use controls, and objectives to shape future growth.
Moss Vale Township Development Control Plan
The Moss Vale Master Plan, developed by Wingecarribee Shire Council in 2010 and updated several times with the latest 1 January 2021. The Moss Vale Township Development Control Plan outlines the planning controls and guidelines for development within the township.
It includes provisions for various land uses, such as residential, business, and industrial, and addresses issues like Ecologically Sustainable Development, flood management, vegetation management, subdivision, siting, design within a heritage context, and safety. The plan also specifies controls for business-zoned land, residential-zoned land, and public domain areas, ensuring that development aligns with the township's vision and character.
Key Features:
The main features focus on:
Environmental Sustainability: Promoting ecologically sustainable development and preserving native vegetation.
Risk Management: Providing guidelines for building on flood-prone land and ensuring safety in design and signage.
Community and Heritage: Regulating subdivisions and ensuring new developments respect the existing heritage landscape.
Objectives:
Ecologically Sustainable Development: Promoting the use of environmentally friendly practices in development.
Flood Liable Land Management: Ensuring that development does not occur on flood-prone areas.
Vegetation Management: Preserving native vegetation and preventing its destruction.
Subdivision and Siting Matters: Controlling the design and placement of subdivisions to maintain the town's character.
Design within a Heritage Context: Incorporating the town's historical and cultural heritage into development plans.
Design for Safety: Ensuring that developments are safe for occupants and the community.
Signage: Providing clear and effective signage to guide the public and enhance the town's image.
Moss Vale Township Development Control Plan
Moss Vale Enterprise Corridor DCP
This document is a detailed planning rulebook created by Wingecarribee Shire Council to guide the transformation of a specific area in the north-east of the Moss Vale township into a major employment and industrial hub. Its primary goal is to facilitate industrial and business development in an orderly and sustainable way, while protecting the area's environmental and scenic values.
Key Points
Minimum lot sizes: 5,000m² (Enterprise), 1 hectare (General Industrial)
Building height limits: 15m near Berrima Road, 20m elsewhere
Building setbacks: 15m from arterial roads, 10m from other roads
Maximum site coverage: 65%
Direct access to arterial roads prohibited
Moss Vale - Chelsea Gardens Coomungie Precinct DCP
This document provides the detailed rules and vision for a new, master-planned residential community south of the existing golf course in Moss Vale. It guides how the land will be subdivided, how streets and parks will be built, and the design of houses and a local village hub.
Key Points:
Vision: To create an authentic Southern Highlands community that is in harmony with nature, offers diverse housing, and promotes a healthy, connected, and walkable lifestyle
Key Features:
- Staged Development: The project will be built in phases over several years.
- Diverse Housing: A mix of lot sizes, from smaller "Courtyard" lots to larger "Parkland" and "Special Character" lots.
- Strong Landscape Character: Tree-lined streets, extensive parks, and a protected creek corridor are central to the design.
- Integrated Village Hub: A small, low-scale neighbourhood centre with shops and services, designed to be pedestrian-friendly.
- Sustainable Design: Focus on managing stormwater with ponds and wetlands, protecting ecology, and ensuring solar access for homes.
- Detailed Residential Controls: Strict rules on building design, materials, fencing, and garages to ensure a consistent, high-quality streetscape that reflects the local character.
Moss Vale Summary
References
- https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/-/media/files/plep/regional-strategies/sydney-canberra-corridor-regional-strategy-2008.pdf
- https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/epi-2010-0685
- https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Development-Control-Plans
- https://participate.wsc.nsw.gov.au/comprehensive-dcp
- https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Planning-and-Building
- https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Local-Strategic-Planning-Statement
- https://www.mossvaletownship.com.au/masterplan