Positioning Timboon & Simpson
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
POSITIONING TIMBOON & SIMPSON (incorporating Simpson Structure Plan) September 2020 PROJECT NUMBER: 2494 PREPARED BY: Chris Renkin, Liam Stanley | Echelon Planning Todd Ainsarr, Nancy Yoo, Tayler Neale | Urban Enterprise REVIEWED BY: Mark Woodland VERSION: v4 2 POSITIONING TIMBOON & SIMPSON 1 PART A Project Overview, Economic & Tourism Profile 4 1.1 Project Overview 5 1.2 Strategic Context 5 1.3 The Process 7 1.4 Community & Stakeholder Engagement 7 1.5 Corangamite 8 1.6 Tourism Profile 9 1.7 Planned and Proposed Projects 13 2 PART B Positioning Timboon 14 2.1 Study Area: Timboon 15 2.2 Positioning Timboon 17 2.3 Timboon Strategy 1 | Tourism Hub of the Hinterland 18 2.4 Timboon Strategy 2 | Lifestyle Residential Destination 20 2.5 Timboon Strategy 3 | Public Realm 21 3 PART C Positioning Simpson (& Structure Plan) 23 3.1 Study Area: Simpson 24 3.2 Positioning Simpson 26 3.3 Simpson Strategy 1 | Public Realm Investment 27 3.4 Simpson Strategy 2 | Primary Location for Key Worker and Affordable Housing 29 3.5 Simpson Strategy 3 | Small Scale Short Stay Accommodation Opportunities 30 3.6 Simpson Strategy 4 | Support New Business and Industrial Opportunities 31 3.7 Simpson Strategy 5 | Simpson Structure Plan 33 3.8 Implementation 46 Appendix 1 48 Issues and Opportunities Feedback Summary 49 Appendix 2 54 Draft Strategy Feedback Summary 55 POSITIONING TIMBOON & SIMPSON 3 1 PART A Project Overview, Economic & Tourism Profile 4 POSITIONING TIMBOON & SIMPSON 1.1 Project Overview 1.2 Strategic Context Corangamite Shire Council has engaged Echelon Planning The Great Ocean Road Region [The Region] is one of Importantly, the new Act and GOR Action Plan recognise and Urban Enterprise to prepare a Positioning Plan for Australia’s premiere iconic tourism destinations. The that the land and towns between the coast and Princes Timboon and Simpson, as well as a Structure Plan for Visitor and Accommodation Forecast Great Ocean Highway to the north - ‘the hinterland’ - will play a Simpson. Road prepared in 2018 for DELWP, estimates the total key future role in settlement planning for the Region visitation to the Region is forecast to grow by an average (including for housing and employment growth), and as This Positioning Timboon and Simpson (incorporating of 4.0% per annum to reach 8.6 million travellers by a significant contributor to the regional visitor economy. the Simpson Structure Plan) [Plan] builds on an Issues 2026-27. This includes 5.6 million day trip visitors and 3 and Opportunities Report that was exhibited over a four million overnight visitors. The Twelve Apostles is one of the key destinations in the week period in February and March 2020. region and it attracts circa two million visitors per year. Economic and planning policy for the Region has This attraction is located near to the coastal town of Port The Plan acknowledges that tourism and the visitor historically focused on the areas along the route of Campbell in the Corangamite Shire, but this township economy have been impacted over the last few months the Great Ocean Road, including the scenic natural has limited capacity for growth due to its sensitive with the Covid-19 pandemic, and the subsequent landscape encompassing the Otway Ranges to the coastal setting. The hinterland towns of Timboon and reduction in overall overseas and interstate visitors coastline and coastal towns. More recent development Simpson are located approximately 15km inland from to the Great Ocean Road Region. However, the Plan and growth within the coastal zone, has highlighted its the coast with direct road access, and they have been continues to plan for projected increase in visitation to limited capacity to sustain growth and development due identified by Council as being well located to fulfil a the Region as a long-term strategic context to planning to environmental sensitivity on a dynamic and fragile supporting service role to the coastal tourist attractions for the future of Timboon and Simpson. A projected coastline. This includes exposure to natural hazard risk in the Region short-term increase in the local tourist market also (bushfire and coastal processes). presents opportunity. By undertaking this Project in advance of the State Recent State Government legislative changes include Government’s development of the overarching Furthermore, the Plan needs to consider the potential introduction of the Great Ocean Road and Environs framework for the GOR Region, Corangamite Shire can for post Covid-19 population growth and associated Protection Bill 2019 that gives effect to the reforms articulate the regional role of Timboon and Simpson demand for housing in regional locations, as people from outlined in the Government’s Great Ocean Road Action and advocate for, capitalise and leverage from policy metropolitan areas of Melbourne and Geelong seek to Plan. Amongst other things, it will form a new principal directions and investments in key worker housing and relocate to towns within Corangamite Shire. Act that amongst other things, recognises the State the visitor economy. Providing this certainty will guide significance of the Great Ocean Road and its landscapes growth in the local economy and assist in attracting and importantly provides for the development and public and private investment. implementation of an overarching planning framework for the region. POSITIONING TIMBOON & SIMPSON 5 Positioning Timboon & Simpson Simpson Structure Plan Tourism is a major contributor to Corangamite Shire’s The Simpson Structure Plan provides a long-term land economic prosperity. The forecast growth in tourism will use and development planning framework and direction require new development and building of infrastructure for the township. The Plan provides direction on how to service tourism operations. to revitalise the township and create a viable town centre, which provides for future business opportunities This project identifies the capacity of the hinterland and captures tourism spending. The Structure Plan towns of Timboon and Simpson to act as key service also provides direction for the location of designated centres with facilities to cater for the growing tourism affordable housing and key worker accommodation in in the Region, including their role and capability to the town. service the increasing tourism facilities along the Great Ocean Road. Further, this Project provides direction on Positioning Simpson (and the Simpson Structure Plan) mechanisms to capitalise on the market and the growing is at Part B of this Report. visitor economy within the towns themselves. In addition to the increasing tourism role, the broader region is experiencing substantial growth and investment in the agricultural and energy sectors. A key element of Corangamite’s strong economic competitiveness is underpinned by affordable land supply that must be maintained. Pressure on housing supply, including key worker housing, requires consideration for planning for future residential and rural residential land supply and opportunities. Council is working with the Victorian Government and other councils across the region to prepare a Housing for Key Workers Strategy. This Strategy provides direction for the role Simpson may play in supply of land for delivery of worker housing in Corangamite and its key directions have informed (and are complimentary to) the actions contained within this Plan. Positioning Timboon is at Part A of this Report. 6 POSITIONING TIMBOON & SIMPSON 1.3 The Process 1.4 Community & Stakeholder Engagement The Project is being prepared in the following five stages: Community and stakeholder engagement is a critical • Hard copies of documents available at Council component in the development of this Project. Customer Service centres and in businesses within the individual towns. Stage 1: Inception and Research (complete) Stages 1 & 2: Consultation on Issues and Opportunities • Information on Council’s Facebook page. Within Stages 1 and 2, Echelon Planning and Urban • The Standard published an article on 23 February Enterprise prepared background technical analysis to inform 2020 announcing the project and inviting feedback Stage 2: Issues and Opportunities Analysis (complete) an Issues and Opportunities Report. This included targeted on issues and opportunities consultation. stakeholder engagement with Council, agencies, authorities and local stakeholders involved in tourism, business, real In total, 23 written submissions were received by Council. Stage 3: Draft Structure Plan estate and land management. Of these, eight were from Simpson residents, 10 from Timboon residents, three ‘other’ residential locations and Consultation on the Issues and Opportunities Report was one each from Wannon Water and the Environmental Stage 4: Final Structure Plan (current) the first of the two phases of community and stakeholder Protection Agency (EPA). engagement in relation to this project. Consultation on that report commenced on 17 February 2020 and ended on A summary of the feedback can be found at Appendix 1. Stage 5: Implementation Friday 13 March, and included: Stage 3: Consultation on Draft Plan • Two drop-in-sessions held on 6 March 2020 in Simpson, and 7 March 2020 in Timboon between This Stage provided the second opportunity for the 2.30pm and 7.30pm. The sessions were held community to have their say in the development of the at the Simpson Bowls Club and Timboon Senior Plan. Citizens Club respectively. A Council officer and member of the consultant team were available at In total, 16 written submissions were received by Council. both sessions to discuss the project. There were Of these, four were from Simpson residents, five from 55 recorded attendances including 38 in Timboon Timboon residents, one ‘other’ residential location and one and 17 in Simpson. each from Wannon Water, the Environmental Protection • Webpage uploaded to Council’s website Agency (EPA), Department of Environment Land Water and containing information about the project, details Planning (DELWP) Barwon South West, Parks Victoria and of consultation and links to the document. the CFA. • Online survey on Council’s webpage. A summary of the feedback can be found at Appendix 2.