Apollo Bay upgrades on track

A PLAN to improve infrastructure on public land in Apollo Bay is about half done, according to the latest Colac Otway Shire update on the project.

Councillors considered the quarterly performance report for the October-December quarter at their February meeting.

The report contains information on the progress of actions in the Council Plan, planning and building activities, capital works and major initiatives, and the status of the council’s finances.

In the “Our Prosperity” category, the action to prepare an Infrastructure Master Plan for Apollo Bay and coastal townships, covering categories including roads, car parking, bus parking, footpaths and storm water drainage is rated at 50 per cent complete.

The plan, which is expected to be presented to councillors early this year, builds on the previous Coastal Tourism Traffic and Parking Study and will provide strategies for improvement of public land in the three towns including the main central foreshore of Apollo Bay and commercial areas.

It will specifically address footpath, toilet and other infrastructure improvements required to support residential and tourism needs, and will recommend changes to traffic management.

The report notes preparation of the draft plan has been delayed by the Department of Transport’s request for the council to prepare a Movement & Place Assessment concerning proposed traffic management changes for the Great Ocean Road, and council officers are also seeking to gain support from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for initiatives relating to foreshore land.

Originally, a development plan for Apollo Bay’s harbour was prepared as part of this project, but this was split into a separate draft plan that the council adopted on December 16.

The Apollo Bay Harbour Development Plan outlines how new buildings and landscaping will look and how pedestrians and vehicles will move around the site.

It identifies commercial and recreational areas within the precinct, the location of public amenities, picnic areas and car parks, and provides connections to the surrounding streets, beaches and Apollo Bay’s town centre.

Expected to be a framework for the next 20-30 years, the plan has taken into account the need for resilience in the face of climate change and predictions of sea level rise and likely erosion.

It will be used to guide land use decision-making on future planning permit applications, allow for projects to be completed as part of the Geelong City Deal, and attract future funding.

The Apollo Bay Harbour Development Plan will support a business case and an expression of interest process for private investment in the harbour, both of which will be prepared separately and will be overseen by the Harbour Redevelopment Project Control Group this year.