Slow growth: Developers disappointed with delays to planning reform for Surf Coast

SOME of the developers with an interest in land in the Spring Creek valley say they are disappointed with the slow progress of reform to planning controls for the Surf Coast.
September marked the one-year anniversary of the Surf Coast being declared a Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL).
The state government will create, as part of the DAL, a Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) with a 50-year vision and land use strategies to better protect the unique features of the area.
According to the original timeline, consultation of the draft SPP was supposed to begin early this year, with a final SPP to be released mid-to-late this year, but the process has been extended for 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Parklea director Don Welsh said he and the other developers were “obviously disappointed” with the ongoing delays.
“It has been 10 years since the then-Labor government confirmed Spring Creek for future development, and three years since the Surf Coast Shire submitted their plan for development which included provision for a new primary school, rehabilitation of the creek, and protection of the Bellarine yellow gums.
“The Labor government at the last election promised to complete a SPP within a year of their re-election, and nearly two years on, it looks like the community will have to wait another year.”
The Surf Coast Shire council’s Spring Creek Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) – on hold until the DAL process is finished – outlines how the land will be developed in the valley up to 1km from Duffields Road.
Parklea and Okeland Communities say their economic modelling shows the PSP will create 2,400 construction jobs, more than $1 billion in construction activity and 370 permanent jobs.
“With planning certainty, we can start discussions with local construction companies and begin conversations about a new primary school and childcare centre,” Mr Welsh said.
“We can discuss the new parks, walking trails and nature-based playgrounds. Like the rest of the community, we seek certainty in 2020.
“We have worked with governments, council and community groups for more than a decade. The original PSP was 6,400 houses and that has been reduced to 1,700, which we supported.”
During the state election, South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman campaigned explicitly on no growth in Spring Creek.
Despite this, Mr Welsh said that did not mean Mr Cheeseman or Labor had a mandate to set the town boundary at Duffields Road (and thus invalidate the Spring Creek PSP).
“The Labor government committed at the last election to listen to the community prior to making any final decisions on the town boundary.”
He said the developers had sought multiple meetings with Mr Cheeseman to discuss the issue and remained keen to meet with him.
According to an update on the Surf Coast DAL website, phase 3 public engagement on the draft Surf Coast SPP is expected to occur in late 2020, and will include a written public submissions process.
“We are currently looking at the best way to consult given current social distancing requirements,” the website states.
For more information, head to engage.vic.gov.au/distinctive-areas-and-landscapes-program/surf-coast.