LABOR has flagged a considerable strengthening of planning laws for the Surf Coast and the Bellarine Peninsula if it wins November\u2019s state election, pledging to protect the area from over-development.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Planning Minister Richard Wynne announced that a re-elected Labor government would declare both the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula \u201cA Distinctive Area and Landscape\u201d under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.<\/p>\n
The declaration triggers a requirement for a Statement of Planning Policy, which will set permanent height controls and town boundaries to protect the environment, landscape and local lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Any attempt to change these town boundaries must be agreed to by Parliament.<\/p>\n
The Statement of Planning Policy would be developed within the first year of a re-elected Labor government in consultation with local councils and the community.<\/p>\n
Labor\u2019s pledge comes coincidentally at the same time that a number of Surf Coast community groups have announced their decision to form an alliance to push back against what they say is inappropriate and unplanned development in the Torquay area.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LABOR has flagged a considerable strengthening of planning laws for the Surf Coast and the Bellarine Peninsula if it wins November\u2019s state election, pledging to protect the area from over-development. On Tuesday, Planning Minister Richard Wynne announced that a re-elected Labor government would declare both the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula \u201cA Distinctive Area and […]<\/p>\n