State sides with locals on Bellarine DAL

PREMIER Daniel Andrews and Bellarine MP Lisa Neville say the state government will stand firm on town settlement boundaries in the Bellarine Distinctive Area Landscape (DAL), as hearings on the planning policy started this week.

The DAL involves a 50-year vision for land use strategies and will designate long-term urban development boundaries, as the culmination of a years-long process to balance growth potential with regional character.

Developers are seeking to unlock more land for residential lots at the fringes of Bellarine towns to meet demand from prospective landowners and investors, but community groups have fiercely opposed further growth to protect the region’s natural landscape.

Speaking during a Bellarine appearance last week, Mr Andrews said the government’s focus would be to protect the local environment.

“We’re about supporting the local community to safeguard and protect what is one of the most beautiful parts of regional Australia,” he said.

“People can invest with absolute confidence because they know that we’re going to safeguard one of the main drawcards to come here, and that’s the natural beauty – not over-developing, not wrecking what is such a pristine part of regional Victoria.”

Ms Neville said she also sided with community groups and wanted to see town boundaries remain in line with a draft plan released last year.

“I have made it very clear with the community and the Minister that I’m supporting strongly the community’s view about the boundaries that were set during the consultation process,” she said.

“I’m confident that the Planning Minister will make some announcements around that shortly.”

Mr Andrews similarly took a hard line during deliberations of the Surf Coast DAL – a stance his government followed through with in a decision this month, when Planning Minister Richard Wynne overruled a committee recommendation and ruled out Spring Creek development.

The DAL’s Standing Advisory Committee, which includes some of Victoria’s foremost planning experts, started hearings on Tuesday this week.

Hearings will continue until June 7, with a recommendation report due to hit the Planning Minister’s desk in early August.