Feedback on 50-year Bellarine Peninsula vision
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02/06/2023
The City of Greater Geelong will add its voice to the third phase of consultation on the draft Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) which sets out a 50-year vision for the Bellarine Peninsula.
The coastal region was declared a Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) by the Victorian Government in 2019 to permanently protect the area from over-development and preserve its unique environment and lifestyle.
Last night the Council endorsed a submission that was generally supportive of the SPP’s strategies and objectives to achieve the long-term vision.
The statement provides permanent settlement boundaries for all townships to protect their character and preserves environmental features green breaks and landscapes between towns.
These boundaries are generally consistent with the Council’s Settlement Strategy.
The submission will recommend the inclusion of a farming zoned parcel of land on Bonnyvale Road at the eastern edge of Ocean Grove that is home to the tourist node the Collendina Hotel within the settlement boundary for Ocean Grove.
The submission seeks further clarity on how the SPP will be implemented into the planning scheme and how policy could be strengthened around achieving zero carbon development in the region.
The City recommends that the impacts of rising sea levels on ground water should be included as an environmental risk and requests a clear definition of nature-based tourism.
The Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) is managing the DAL project and has carried out three phases of community consultation.
The draft SPP has been informed by two rounds of engagement and several technical reports.The City will ask that a consideration of submissions report is released by DELWP and a detailed implementation plan and guidelines are prepared before the Council endorses the final SPP.
The coastal region was declared a Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) by the Victorian Government in 2019 to permanently protect the area from over-development and preserve its unique environment and lifestyle.
Last night the Council endorsed a submission that was generally supportive of the SPP’s strategies and objectives to achieve the long-term vision.
The statement provides permanent settlement boundaries for all townships to protect their character and preserves environmental features green breaks and landscapes between towns.
These boundaries are generally consistent with the Council’s Settlement Strategy.
The submission will recommend the inclusion of a farming zoned parcel of land on Bonnyvale Road at the eastern edge of Ocean Grove that is home to the tourist node the Collendina Hotel within the settlement boundary for Ocean Grove.
The submission seeks further clarity on how the SPP will be implemented into the planning scheme and how policy could be strengthened around achieving zero carbon development in the region.
The City recommends that the impacts of rising sea levels on ground water should be included as an environmental risk and requests a clear definition of nature-based tourism.
The Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) is managing the DAL project and has carried out three phases of community consultation.
The draft SPP has been informed by two rounds of engagement and several technical reports.The City will ask that a consideration of submissions report is released by DELWP and a detailed implementation plan and guidelines are prepared before the Council endorses the final SPP.
Greater Geelong Mayor Stephanie Asher said she hoped the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes process would cement the directions in the Council’s Settlement Strategy.
We have heard clearly and consistently from the community that they are concerned about over-development on the Bellarine and want to see the area’s coastal and rural character protected.
Council’s Settlement Strategy took an important step forward in confirming that the share of Greater Geelong’s growth being directed towards the Bellarine will decline and that future housing should be within existing town boundaries.
Through the DAL process there is now an opportunity to lock in permanent settlement boundaries and it is encouraging to see the draft Statement of Planning Policy reflecting the community’s desire to see that happen.
Deputy Mayor Trent Sullivan Bellarine Ward said the SPP will have far-reaching impacts on the Bellarine Peninsula for decades to come.
I commend DELWP for the extensive community consultation undertaken on this project as a robust and transparent planning process is important for these significant decisions.
Our request to see a detailed response to submissions from DELWP is critical to transparency in the planning process.