Phase 2 of the Bellarine Peninsula Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) project is now open.
Information collated from Phase 2 will be collected by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to prepare a draft Statement of Planning Policy (SPP).
In 2018, the state government declared the Macedon Ranges region as the first distinctive area and landscape under the new Part 3AAB of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
The government has since announced its intention to declare three new coastal areas – Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Cost and Bass Coast.
By declaring an area as a Distinctive Area and Landscape it will:
• Require the preparation of a Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) led by the state government in partnership with local government and traditional owners.
• Require the development of a long-term vision and strategies to protect distinctive areas in consultation with local communities.
• Introduce the opportunity for protected settlement boundaries for townships – such as Melbourne’s urban growth boundary.
Chair of the Ocean Grove Community Association (OGCA) Phil Edwards said this phase of community engagement is an important opportunity for members of our community to have further input into the development of the SPP.
“The OGCA would like to encourage all community members to read the DELWP discussion paper and take the opportunity to have their say through DELWP online survey,” he said.
“It is critical that we don’t let this important step and the opportunity to input to the development of the Statement of Planning Policy get lost in the COVID-19 fog. Please tell your family and friends and encourage them to have their say.”
The Bellarine Peninsula DAL Discussion Paper has been prepared for this phase of engagement and is available in the DELWP document library at engage.vic.gov.au/distinctive-areas-and-landscapes-program/bellarine-peninsula.
DELWP is seeking feedback on a draft 50-year vision statement and potential policy approaches for the SPP.
Phase 2 engagement will be open until midnight, May 31, 2020.
On October 29, 2019 the Bellarine Peninsula was declared a Distinctive Area and Landscape under the Planning and Environment Act 1987. The declaration triggers the requirement to prepare a Statement of Planning Policy.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) undertook its first phase of public engagement from May 14, 2019 to July 15, 2019.
The engagement sought community feedback on:
What is most valued about the Bellarine Peninsula?
What threats are there to these values?
Ways we could protect what is valued?
The vision for the future of the Bellarine Peninsula?
A summary of phase one engagement findings and the full public engagement report are available to download from the Document Library.
The Bellarine Peninsula is coming under increasing pressure from development, visitation and climate change impacts (such as flooding and erosion), increasing the threat of degradation to its landscape, environment and heritage values. There is a need to manage residential and visitation growth and their associated challenges sustainably and safely.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) will work in collaboration with the Borough of Queenscliffe, the City of Greater Geelong, and traditional owners, the Wadawurrung People in preparing the draft Statement of Planning Policy, with input from local communities and other key stakeholders.
