AIDA generally supports Urban Futures Strategy

THE Aireys Inlet and District Association (AIDA) is generally in favour of the principles and directions set out in the Surf Coast Shire’s draft Urban Futures Strategy, but would like to see further refinement in the sections on population growth and housing needs.

Earlier this year, the shire put the draft strategy out for a second round of community consultation.

When finalised, the Urban Futures Strategy will establish a policy framework to guide sustainable urban growth within the shire and guide future land use planning at the township and precinct level.

In responding to forecast population growth to 2051, the strategy recommends and prioritises strategic work to ensure an adequate supply of land to meet future housing and employment needs.

For the coastal towns between Anglesea and Lorne, the strategy states two township principles: maintain their unique township and surrounding landscape character, and provide for limited future housing growth and employment within the existing settlement boundaries consistent with township character.

Writing in the latest edition of AIDA’s newsletter about the strategy, AIDA’s Ian Laging said the association had carefully reviewed the draft document and generally supported its principles, particularly those relating to the area from Aireys Inlet through Fairhaven and Moggs Creek to Eastern View, including:

• Recognition of the landscape-level bushfire risk when planning for urban growth
• Protection of land with environmental and landscape significance plus places of heritage significance
• Encouragement of housing diversity within local township areas, and
• Ensuring existing urban areas are well planned to deliver sustainable communities.

Mr Laging said AIDA acknowledged the population projections of more households with older or fewer people in the coastal towns.

“We agree that the ‘diversity of housing types and sizes is currently limited (predominantly detached larger houses)’ but question the statement that these larger houses do not meet the future needs of these smaller households.

“These needs can vary greatly in the coastal townships depending upon the season and individual family circumstances.

“However, we agree that opportunities should be available for local residents to move into smaller dwellings as their housing needs change.”

He said AIDA strongly supported the strategy’s statement that any “growth will be informed by the valued attributes and character of the existing townships”.

“To that end, we note that future growth planning would be based upon a ‘placemaking approach with community participation at its core’.

“We strongly support this approach even if such community involvement has not always taken place in the past.”

According to the shire’s timeline, the shire is now reviewing submissions and will adopt the final Urban Futures Strategy in early 2025.