10-year plan for Surf Coast’s social infrastructure adopted

AN EXPANDED Torquay Library and completion of Winchelsea’s Barwon River Loop Walk are among dozens of projects in the Surf Coast Shire earmarked for delivery over the next 10 years.

Adopted at the council’s December meeting, the new Our Places and Spaces – Surf Coast Social Infrastructure Plan 2026-2036 will guide the shire in making fair and evidence-based decisions about how and where it invests in community places and spaces.

These are divided into nine service categories:

• Arts and culture facilities
• Aquatics, leisure and recreation
• Community meeting and program spaces
• Early years
• Outdoor sport and recreation
• Playgrounds and public open space
• Pathways and connections
• Public amenities, and
• Youth spaces.

The plan includes a town-by-town list of projects.

Also featured on the list are new sports lighting at Lorne’s Stribling Reserve netball courts, and detailed design for an upgraded Deans Marsh Community Hub (with construction subject to funding).
The plan was based on a framework for assessing and prioritising projects, centred on factors relating to community need and project deliverability.

“Community facilities and open spaces bring people together and provide access to services and activities that make the Surf Coast a better place to live,” Cr Liz Pattison said.

“For many people, these places are like a second home, and we want them to be accessible, fit for purpose and meeting the needs of the community.”

The shire presently manages a network of social infrastructure assets valued at $243 million, and spends $7 million each year on maintenance of those assets.

“The plan sets out a strong short-term focus on delivering on our existing priorities and commitments, and renewing our ageing assets,” Cr Pattison said.

She said the shire was looking to balance renewal of existing assets with building new facilities for the municipality’s growing population over the life of the plan, while staying within the shire’s financial means.

“The current economic environment limits our capacity to fully fund new facilities, so our funding strategy will be reliant on securing grants from other levels of government, as well as fundraising by clubs and groups, to assist with project costs.

“It often takes several years to plan, secure funding and deliver facilities – it takes patience from all involved and a willingness to try and try again, so it’s important to have a long-term view.”

Engagement with the Surf Coast community inclued an online survey in August and September this year that generated 226 responses and almost 2.000 page views.

Shire staff also held multiple in-person conversations with community groups, key organisations, government departments and service providers.

To read the Surf Coast Social Infrastructure Plan 2026-2036, including the town-by-town list of planned projects, head to yoursay.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/placesandspaces