Open houses on Bellarine distinctive areas to start in June

COMMUNITY engagement has started to declare Torquay, Jan-Juc and surrounds, and the Bellarine Peninsula communities as Distinctive Areas and Landscapes under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said the feedback would underpin planning policy and give the community a say over development controls and settlement boundaries.

The State Labor Government has started initial assessments of these coastal study areas and is working with local councils and the Wadawurrung people as it moves towards declaring the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast under new legislation.

Engagement is now open, with open-house sessions planned for Bellbrae and Torquay from tonight, and on the Bellarine next month, to better understand what is most important to the local community.

Mr Wynne said community feedback was being sought on ways to better protect these areas in the face of increasing urban development and the impacts of climate change.

“We’re delivering permanent planning protection, enshrined in law, to ensure everything great about the Bellarine and Surf Coast remains that way,” Mr Wynne said.

“This will be a thorough engagement process that taps into the rich local knowledge that coastal communities have on these valuable and fragile landscapes.”

DELWP will be hosting community open houses in Bellbrae today (Thursday May 23), at Bellbrae Public Hall (90 School Road, Bellbrae) between 6pm and 8pm, Torquay on Friday May 24 at St Luke’s Anglican Hall (corner Pride and Price streets) between 10am and 12pm, and another between 6pm and 8pm, and Saturday May 25 at St Luke’s Anglican Hall between 10am and 12pm.

The Surf Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape Project will coincide with the development of the Great Ocean Road Strategic Framework Plan, which will provide further protection to the Great Ocean Road Region.

Engagement surveys will also be open until June 10 for the Surf Coast and late June for the Bellarine, with ongoing engagement to continue through the life of the project.

To take part in the survey, visit engage.vic. gov.au.

The project comes after a re-elected Andrews Labor Government last year pledged to permanently protect the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula from over development, with planning protection enshrined in law.

Public engagement opened last week, with the final statement of planning policy expected to be complete in mid-2020.