Shire seeks input on urban growth strategy

THE Surf Coast Shire is seeking the community’s feedback on its draft strategy to guide urban growth and future land use across the region.

It marks the second phase of community consultation on the Urban Futures Strategy, with the feedback provided during the first phase, conducted between October and December last year, informing the draft.

Once finalised, the strategy will establish a clear policy framework defining the future role of towns within the shire and guide land use at both the township and precinct level.

It considers a range of constraints, including the need to protect the natural environment and significant landscapes, and responds to forecast population growth to 2051, recommending and prioritising strategic work to ensure an adequate supply of land to meet future housing and employment needs.

Councillor Mike Bodsworth encouraged community members to view the strategy and help shape its completion during its “important final round of consultation”.

“Our shire has one of the fastest rates of growth in Victoria, and that is projected to continue across the next decade and more,” he said.

“Opinions vary across our shire on the benefits versus costs of growth, but the draft strategy shows how a strong, well-considered framework can guide urban growth to meet future housing and employment needs while taking into account sustainability, social aspects and the need to protect and preserve natural environments and township character.”

According to Victoria in Future projections, the shire’s population is set to rise annually by 1.6 per cent between 2021 and 2036, equating to an increase of almost 10,400 people to more than 48,000.

It is estimated the remaining residential land supply will be sufficient to meet 12.7 years demand across the municipality, with zoned land providing 5.7 years supply.

The draft Urban Futures Strategy highlights the “immediate need” to increase the supply of land zoned for urban residential use and a need to identity land suitable to meet the region’s anticipated medium to longer term housing needs.

In identifying key directions for the distribution of growth, the strategy recognises the limiting effect of bushfire risk, the significance of the Great Ocean Road landscape, the need to retain existing settlement boundaries and a range of other factors.

With Torquay unable to accommodate the majority of the shire’s growth in the medium and longer term, and other townships within the municipality each presenting their own unique constraints, the draft strategy identifies Winchelsea as the principal location for future growth in the shire.

For more information, or to make a submission before August 26, head to yoursay.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/UFS

To make an enquiry about the strategy, email [email protected] or call 5261 0600.