Planning panel to consider Moriac subdivision

Part of the plan of the proposed subdivision - the purple shapes are the new houses, while the orange shapes are the existing buildings.

AN INDEPENDENT planning panel will consider the merits of rezoning land in Moriac for housing after the Surf Coast Shire addressed 12 submissions about the application but was unable to resolve the 13th.

Amendment C124 proposes the rezoning of 13.8 hectares of farming land in the town of Moriac to facilitate a Low Density Residential Zone subdivision.

The proposal would create 29 lots with an area greater than 4,000 square metres at 600-640 Cape Otway Road.

The subject land is identified within the Moriac Structure Plan 2010 as a priority location for low density residential development.

The application was exhibited in August 2020 and the council received 13 submissions to the proposal.

According to the report presented to councillors at their February meeting, following amendments to the plan of subdivision and draft planning permit, 12 of the submissions were resolved and subsequently withdrawn.

The unresolved submission to Amendment C124 was lodged by owners of a property located in Lloyd Mews, Moriac, and refers to proposed access arrangements to the subdivision from Cape Otway Road, including concerns about the existing condition of Cape Otway Road; the present poor access to reliable internet services in Moriac and the proposed development may exacerbate this issue; and concerns regarding the scale of residential development within Moriac.

At their meeting, councillors resolved to refer the submission to Amendment C124 to a panel appointed by the Minister for Planning in accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987.