Information sessions on Bellarine DAL begin

THE first of four public information sessions about the draft Bellarine Peninsula Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) is scheduled to be held today (Thursday, July 22).

The SPP – part of the broader Bellarine Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) program – includes a 50-year vision statement, objectives and strategies to achieve the vision, and a declared area framework.

The declared area framework plan identifies areas for conservation, long-term protected settlement boundaries, and areas for change within established areas.

The draft SPP objectives are binding on responsible public entities (RPEs), while the strategies act as recommendations that RPEs must consider in performing their duties.

RPEs are municipal councils, departments, statutory authorities and public land managers such as the Department of Transport, Parks Victoria, Barwon Water, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, Bellarine Bayside Committee of Management and Barwon Coast Committee of Management.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has already held an online information session, and has proposed holding four in-person sessions for people to hear more about the proposals in the draft SPP and ask questions.

All in-person information sessions will be guided by the Victorian Government’s public health advice.

Attendees must register for a 30-minute session, which will be capped at 15 people to meet density limits.

All attendees must follow the Victorian Government’s existing public health advice regarding the use of masks, contact tracing and social distancing.

The in-person sessions are proposed to be held on:

• Thursday, July 22 at Leopold Library, 31-39 Kensington Road, Leopold
• Tuesday, July 27 at Bellarine Anglican Parish, 45-55 Collins Street, Drysdale
• Thursday, July 29 at Bellarine Training and Community Hub, 1 John Dory Drive, Ocean Grove, and
• Friday, July 30 at Queenscliff Uniting Church, Corner of Hesse and Stokes streets, Queenscliff.

A range of times in the afternoon and evening are available.

Register as soon as possible to ensure you get your preferred time.

The in-person information sessions may help inform written submissions to the draft SPP, but DELWP is advising that it is preferred that people do not lodge their submission at the information session.

Phase 3 of public engagement on the Bellarine DAL ends at 5pm on August 20, with the final SPP expected to be produced by later this year.

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