This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Victorian government has released its final statement of planning policy (SPP) for the Bellarine Peninsula, which will guide town and development boundaries in the region over the next 50 years.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville announced the SPP at the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club on Friday.
The policy, which can be viewed here, offers certainty to the building sector about future opportunities for housing, tourism and infrastructure investment, they said.
The Bellarine Peninsula is a major tourism and recreation destination with a bevy of beaches, rural landscapes and historic towns including Queenscliff and Portarlington, as well as parks, wetlands of biodiversity significance and productive agricultural land.
“The draft policy locks in protected settlement boundaries for all townships, to ensure the Bellarine’s agricultural areas, landscapes, environmental features, small villages and towns are protected from inappropriate development and direct future growth to strategic locations,” the government said.
The Peninsula was declared a Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) in 2019, “recognising that its beautiful coastal environment, unique green spaces, local producers, and lifestyle, were under pressure from urban overdevelopment”.
That declaration triggered the need for a Statement of Planning Policy for the area. Other locations within the region include Leopold, Barwon Heads, Drysdale, Clifton Springs and Curlewis, Point Lonsdale and Portarlington.
“We promised to protect our iconic Bellarine Peninsula – and that’s exactly what we’ve done, boosting the local economy and making sure locals and tourists can enjoy this beautiful part of Victoria well into the future,” Premier Andrews said.
Neville said the reforms “give confidence to local residents and businesses that what they love about their community, and surrounding environment, is valued and protected for future generation,” Neville said.
There are no major changes from the draft SPP released in the middle of 2021 aside from the Collendina Hotel site now included within the Ocean Grove town boundary.
The SPP was also referred to an independent advisory committee in January by former planning minister Richard Wynne. The Standing Advisory Committee recommended the DAL should protected settlement boundaries, but this was rebuffed by the government.
The final draft policy was developed in collaboration with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, the Borough of Queenscliff, and the City of Greater Geelong following extensive consultation with community and industry.
