- Minister for Planning
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering permanent protections to Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula communities to safeguard their precious coastlines from overdevelopment and urban sprawl.
Minister for Planning Richard Wynne today announced the start of community engagement to declare Torquay, Jan-Juc and surrounds, and the Bellarine Peninsula communities as Distinctive Areas and Landscapes under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
The feedback will underpin planning policy, giving the community a say over development controls and settlement boundaries.
Community feedback is being sought on ways to better the protect these areas in the face of increasing urban development and the impacts of climate change.
The Labor Government has started initial assessments of these coastal study areas and is working with local councils and the Wadawurrung people as we move towards declaring the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast under new legislation.
Engagement is now open, with open house sessions to be held in coming weeks to better understand what is most important to the local community.
These sessions will be run in conjunction with the work being undertaken as part of implementing the Great Ocean Road Action Plan.
Engagement surveys will be open until June 10 for the Surf Coast and late June for the Bellarine, with ongoing engagement to continue through the life of the project. To take part in the survey, visit: .
As noted by Minister for Planning Richard Wynne
“We’re delivering permanent planning protection, enshrined in law, to ensure everything great about the Bellarine and Surf Coast remains that way.”
“This will be a thorough engagement process that taps into the rich local knowledge that coastal communities have on these valuable and fragile landscapes.”
