The changes range from a simple name change for region-wide consistency, or rezoning to align with current and future land uses, through to increased building heights that encourage vibrancy and development in larger centres.

"As a merged council, we currently have three sets of planning controls across the region which is confusing for everyone," Paul De Szell, council's director of liveable communities said.

The drop-in sessions are part of a check-in consultation designed to help people understand what zones currently apply to where they live, shop, work and play, and to secure community feedback relating to proposed zoning changes in towns and villages.

Feedback collated in this phase will inform the development of draft plans, which will be placed on exhibition during a second phase, before being finalised and implemented, Mr De Szell said.

"Reviewing our urban zones is one part of a much larger project to streamline our planning controls, and contemporise them at the same time so they cater for our communities into the future."

Rural zones will be addressed in a separate consultation later this year.

While not all zones are changing, planning controls directly impact what an area looks like, what activities can be undertaken, and the type of buildings the neighbours can construct next door.

Effective zoning also avoids mixing incompatible land uses, like a pre-school next to a pub, and maintains local character by ensuring consistency of building structures, Mr De Szell said.

To find out what's being proposed for your zone, drop-in and chat with a land-use planner at your nearest session, or visit www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/zoningin where you can use the online mapping tool to look up what's being proposed for your neighbourhood. Submissions are invited online, by email or by post, before the consultation closes on Thursday, April 9.

Drop-in sessions run between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at:

Additional sessions will be held at:

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