Community groups encourage public submissions to Bellarine DAL

COMMUNITY groups on the Bellarine Peninsula are urging the public to have their say in the latest phase of consultation in the Bellarine Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) program.

Released in late June, the DAL’s draft Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) sets a “50-year vision for protecting areas for conservation while providing long-term certainty for investment”.

The SPP includes objectives and strategies to achieve the vision, a declared area framework, and long-term protected settlement boundaries.

Public engagement in phase three of the Bellarine DAL closes on August 20, and Drysdale Clifton Springs Curlewis Association president Mercedes Drummond is keen for as many people as possible to make a submission before the deadline.

“Much has been said about the fact it is deemed inappropriate to approve developments and infills using the out of date 2010 Structure Plan,” she wrote in a post on the DCSCA’s Facebook page.

“Many believe it is not in keeping with current community expectations. This is our opportunity to have a say as to what we want to happen in our community for the next 50 years.

“I urge you to please go online and complete a submission. It doesn’t have to be long and you can refer to areas which are important to you.

“The more residents who respond to this, the better chance we have of having changes made that will protect the Bellarine from inappropriate development in the future.”

DCSCA member and former president Neil McGuinness provided an excerpt of his submission, which aims to limit the Bellarine’s residential population to between 90,000 and 100,000 people via a six-point plan:

• Only allowing residential development within defined settlement boundaries
• Development within defined settlement boundaries is to be a minimum lot size of 7,000sqm, and building and hard surfaces to occupy no more than 40 per cent of the land surface
• Only allowing low density residential development on the historic non-urban break between Clifton Springs and Drysdale
• Assigning a dollar value to the trees when assessing development proposals
• Strategies to make the Bellarine more attractive to the tourist, such as world-class sustainable ecotourism, recreational activities, and a Bellarine Scenic Route to be promoted as an extension of the Great Ocean Road, and
• Providing more visitor accommodation to foster a visitor economy and provide employment locally.

The Point Lonsdale Civic Association (PLCA) is also calling for submissions in response to the draft SPP.

“We strongly encourage our membership to submit individually,” the PLCA wrote in an email to members last month.

“The association will also make a submission, and contribute to a Combined Bellarine Community Association submission.”

For more information, to read the draft SPP or make a submission, head to the Engage Victoria website.