Surf Coast puts housing, sport on state agenda

THE Surf Coast Shire has locked in its advocacy priorities for the 2026 state election, targeting housing, transport and community infrastructure projects it says cannot be delivered without government backing.

The priorities span the Polwarth and South Barwon electorates and will form the basis of the shire’s lobbying efforts in the lead up to November’s state poll.

In Polwarth, held by Liberal MP Richard Riordan, housing features prominently, with the shire seeking support for several projects aimed at easing worker and affordable housing shortages.

A key project is the Anglesea Community and Health Hub, an integrated development planned for McMillan Street that would bring together community facilities, health services and key worker housing.

The shire is seeking $750,000 in state funding to progress the project through detailed design.

It is also seeking $200,000 to support a social and affordable housing development in Fraser Drive in Aireys Inlet, while in Lorne, it will advocate for a pilot land tax exemption to encourage property owners to rent homes to key workers on a long-term basis and $250,000 to design an affordable housing project for key workers.

Torquay’s CBD and Baines Crescent remain a focus, with the shire seeking $700,000 in state support to explore public space upgrades, housing opportunities and the long-term commercial and cultural uses of both precincts.

Tourism and economic resilience projects also feature on the wish list, including the proposed Anglesea Mountain Bike Trails network, which would deliver more than 100km of new and upgraded trails. Its total cost is estimated at $2.8 million.

Cr Mike Bodsworth said the trails would help diversity Anglesea’s tourism offering.

“With the state that the Anglesea River is in…there are various risks to Anglesea’s visitor economy that relate to the river,” he said. “So, it’s an important point with the mountain bike trails, and trails generally in the district, to diversity our visitor offering.”

Ahead of the Surf Coast Suns’ entry into the Bellarine Football Netball League this year, the shire is also seeking support to deliver upgrades to the club’s playing infrastructure.

The works – estimated at $350,000 for the netball facilities and $150,000 for the football facilities – would ensure the rapidly growing club meets league requirements and can continue to provide opportunities for local players.

In the South Barwon electorate, held by former Labor MP Darren Cheeseman, priorities include safety and amenity upgrades in Moriac and major drainage and lighting works at Connewarre Reserve to support growing sporting demand.

Shire mayor Libby Stapleton said state government support would be essential to progress these priority projects. “Successful advocacy helps us to shape our present and future with delivery of many key policies and projects which might otherwise be out of reach.”