WARRNAMBOOL PLANNING SCHEME

21 MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT 02/05/2013 C68

21.01 MUNICIPAL PROFILE

02/05/2013 C68 Overview

Warrnambool is Victoria’s largest coastal city outside Port Phillip Bay and is the fastest growing economy and population centre in south-west Victoria. The city is a major provider in the fields of commerce, governance, social services, health, education, culture, the arts and recreation. Warrnambool is a major destination for people travelling along tourist routes including the Great Ocean Road, Princes Highway and the south-west railway, and caters for regional, intrastate, interstate and international visitors. With a location adjoining both protected and exposed coastline and a strong maritime and built heritage, over 700,000 tourists visit the city each year. As well as a developing tourist industry, Warrnambool is the focus for a range of activities that provide an employment base for the city’s population of approximately 30,900 and the adjoining sub-region. These include a major retail and business centre; primary production and food processing; quality education facilities from pre-school to university; community, health and governance services; and manufacturing.

Housing

Warrnambool is centred around the old city core, south of the Princes Highway, which forms a grid pattern comprising significant heritage buildings and precincts with a strong landscape theme of Norfolk Island Pines. The town originated with a tendency to turn its back on the coast due to the severity of onshore winds, creating developed areas set back from the coastline. North of the highway, there is a range of subdivision styles responding to the terrain, watercourses and main roads. Drainage issues have also influenced the development of certain locations. The smaller satellite townships of Allansford and Dennington have developed in a linear fashion and each has their own identity. Woodford and Bushfield are smaller settlements offering a relaxed rural lifestyle on the northern boundary of the municipality. Industrial areas are often in proximity to residential development, and there is a need to provide adequate buffers between incompatible land uses. The availability of affordable housing is a key issue in the municipality. The total population of the City of Warrnambool is approximately 30,900. It is estimated that the population will increase by approximately 6,000 by 2019. This equates to an average annual growth rate of 1.3% compared to the growth rate of 1.0% between 1981 and 2001. Department of Sustainability and Environment growth projections for regional Victoria are for an average annual growth rate of only 0.9% to 2019. Change is also expected in the age structure over the next two decades with the 35-49 age group projected to have the greatest net growth, followed by the 15-24 age group. The total number of households is 12,413 and is expected to grow to 16,539 between 2004 and 2019, and to 17,868 by 2024. This represents an average annual growth rate of 2.2%, based on a projected household size of 2.2 persons per household. Warrnambool’s housing profile shows slightly more semi-detached (5%) and unit style housing (8%) than the rest of the Western District and Regional Victoria.

Environment

Council recognises the international and national commitments to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and its role in responding to climate change. Current predictions are that the current atmospheric greenhouse gas levels will lead to climate changes in the South West of Victoria. CSIRO research modelling has indicated that in the next 50 years temperatures will increase, extreme weather events will increase and rainfall will decrease. These climate changes are expected to change the geographical distribution of some primary

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industries such as dairying and cropping. Appropriate responses to climate change include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering of carbon through the enhancement of greenhouse sinks, and the development and implementation of strategies to adapt to climate change. In addition, coastal hazards, such as coastal erosion, increased flooding from increased storms, the need to provide for buffer zones and setbacks to allow coastal wetlands to migrate landwards to continue to maintain their ecological function as a response to rising sea levels. Warrnambool City is located within the Glenelg Regional Catchment and the Glenelg Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS) 2003 – 2007 and the Victorian Coastal Strategy (2002) are the primary environmental planning frameworks for land, water and biodiversity in the region. The Glenelg Hopkins Region is approximately 25,000km2 in area, and has a population of around 100,000 people, with approximately 80% of the area used for agricultural production activities. The region contains a range of natural assets in the form of its biodiversity, waterways and wetlands, soils, forests and coastal areas, which support a unique quality of life. Important biodiversity assets include (but are not necessarily limited to) Starlight Caves (Southern Bent Winged Bat maternity cave); Logans Beach nursery for Southern Right Whales; the Hopkins and Merri River estuaries; beaches, embayments and tidal rock platforms; Middle Island Penguin colony; Maam wetland reserve; Lake Pertobe wetlands; Coastal Dune scrubland; and the Francis Tozer Reserve. Three of the most important industries in South West Victoria - agriculture, fisheries and tourism - depend on the maintenance of a healthy natural resource base. The region is home to a number of threatened species of flora and fauna found on land and in aquatic environments. Major threats are inappropriate development, pest plant and animal invasion and urban encroachment. In the Lower Hopkins catchment, the Fiery Creek, Mount Emu Creek and Brucknell Creek all converge into the Hopkins River which then flows into the Southern Ocean at Warrnambool. The Merri River has its own separate catchment and also runs out to sea at Warrnambool. There are many small, shallow lakes, floodplains and wetlands throughout the Lower Hopkins area. The topographical features in the municipality range from the coastal system of beaches, cliffs, dune, estuaries and swamps/wetlands to the river valleys and the rural hinterland. Most of the land area is located across low rolling coastal hills. Native vegetation across this area has mainly been removed often as a result of grazing. The coastal areas retain areas of significant native vegetation and there are efforts to revegetate these areas. Inland degradation issues include soil structure and water quality deterioration and invasion by pest plants, whilst erosion of the coastal dunes is also occurring. The flood plains of the Hopkins and Merri Rivers and Russells Creek affect large areas of land throughout the city and the surrounding rural area. The heritage assets of Warrnambool are a significant feature of the region. The district was originally occupied by the clans of the Kirrae Wuurong and Gunditjmara people and there are numerous indigenous archaeological sites, the oldest at Point Ritchie dating from 60,000 to 80,000 years ago. Since 1983, Warrnambool has worked to identify and protect its significant heritage places. The initial list of notable buildings and historic precincts including church complexes, public buildings and areas of small stone and wooden cottages has been expanded to include industrial heritage and a range of residential and commercial precincts that document the story of Warrnambool’s development into the major regional centre of the South West. Warrnambool City forms part of the South West Coastal Region that incorporates the Victorian coastal area from Moonlight Head to the South Australian Border. It includes the municipalities of Corangamite Shire, Moyne Shire, Warrnambool City and Glenelg Shire and is overseen by the Western Coastal Board. The Victorian Coastal Strategy (VCS) recognises a range of attributes that exist within the region generally, and also those values and threats within Warrnambool that will require careful management to ensure the ongoing protection and enhancement of the area’s

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important coastal features. Warrnambool is identified as an activity node in the VCS that exhibits the following values: . a range of natural and cultural values including sites of indigenous and non-indigenous heritage significance, scenic landscapes and wild life viewing; . commercial fishing, shipping and boat harbour activities; . residential development; and . a range of recreational and tourism values including swimming and surfing beaches, recreational fishing and boating and a range of tourist accommodation types. The area in the vicinity of Warrnambool is recognised in the Regional Catchment Strategy as a priority area requiring management of a range of environmental threats including erosion/sedimentation, turbidity, pest plant and animals, and residential development. Current use and management of water resources is not sustainable. Climate change may see the region’s water resources become less reliable. Per capita water use in regional towns and cities is higher than in the Melbourne Metropolitan area. Regional Victorians will have to change the way they use water. Council has a role in partnership with other water management agencies, to educate water users and provide incentives for smart water use in the residential, industrial and rural sectors.

Economic Development

The majority of the working population in Warrnambool is engaged in retail and wholesale trade, health and community services and manufacturing industries. Employment in the recreational, personal and other services areas of the economy is also important, particularly in the tourism sector. Warrnambool also has strong employment in the educational sector due to the presence of tertiary institutions including Deakin University and the South West College of TAFE. Industry sectors which have experienced growth in the last decade are property and business services, retail and wholesale, health and community services, personal and other services, education and manufacturing. Rural land in the municipality forms part of the highly productive Western District. The significant processing and agricultural servicing facilities located in Warrnambool are of advantage to local primary producers and a source of local employment. The preservation of agricultural land in lots or holdings which can sustain and provide for efficient and effective production is necessary to sustain the agricultural economy of the area, as well as the industries which rely on agricultural products for processing. Fragmentation of agricultural land into lots which cannot facilitate agricultural production undermines the industry and the wider economy. There needs to be a balance between land capability and land development requirements while not compromising primary production. There is a clear retail hierarchy in the municipality. The Warrnambool City Centre functions as the principle retail and commercial centre for the south-west region of Victoria. The municipality comprises other retail components including the Eastern Activity Precinct (which acts as a secondary retail centre) and a network of smaller centres ranging from small shopping centres to approximately 20 general and convenience stores. The demand for bulky goods retailing is growing and has concentrated along the Princes Highway which offers large, level sites with a high degree of exposure. Future development needs to take into account the primacy of the Warrnambool City Centre and the need to ensure that all efforts are made to consolidate and strengthen the city centre’s retail and other service functions, particularly as this is the principal centre servicing the surrounding catchment and the wider south-west region of Victoria. As a result of population growth and strong growth in a range of industrial sectors, including freight and logistics, expansion of agricultural industries and emergence of new energy generation sector utilising wind and natural gas resources, land available for industrial purposes was in critically short supply. Recognising that the existing industrial hubs within the City are at, or nearing capacity, an Industrial Land Review was undertaken in 2010 to identify suitable land for a new industrial hub to accommodate anticipated industrial land supply needs for the next 15 years. The Eastern Industrial Precinct located along the Horne Road corridor has been identified as the preferred location to support major industrial development within Warrnambool.

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Tourism is a major contributor to the local and regional economies. The city has a strong maritime and built heritage combined with the natural assets of the coast and beaches and is located at the western entrance to the Great Ocean Road. The welcoming amenity, facilities and surroundings of the city add to the tourism appeal. The main tourism market within Warrnambool comprises the family beach holiday segment however, festivals such as Fun 4 Kids, the whale season and cultural tourism are areas for potential tourism growth. The Warrnambool South foreshore area is the main holiday accommodation precinct for these visitors and has progressively developed to capture this market. Whilst development is occurring to meet the apparent strong demand for holiday accommodation, there is a lack of alternative forms of accommodation directed at other market segments such as a backpacker, resort and 4 or 5 star accommodation. Continuing development of major tourism assets such as the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum will generate increased visitor numbers and a need for more tourist oriented retail land uses to support the increase in visitor spending.

Infrastructure

Warrnambool is located on a National Highway Route, as well as the Hopkins Highway. Ready access is provided to the neighbouring centres of Portland, Hamilton, Colac, as well as Ballarat, Geelong and Melbourne, by a highway and main road network. Raglan Parade (Princes Highway), Mortlake Road (Hopkins Highway) and Caramut Road provide notable entrances to the Central Activities District. The city is connected to the state rail network, providing access to Camperdown, Colac, Geelong, Melbourne and beyond. V/Line Freight and private transport companies provide rail freight services. Warrnambool City Council operates an aerodrome north of the city which is used for emergency air links, freight facilities for local producers and a commuter service. In order to service the proposed industrial hub in east Warrnambool, and to provide an alternative access route around the City, a potential link road is proposed utilising Horne Road, connecting to Mortlake Road via Wangoom Road. Details of this link are to be considered as part of the Development Plans to be prepared for the Eastern Industrial Precinct, and in co-ordination with relevant State Government agencies. The regional centre is serviced by reticulated water sourced from the Otway Ranges. The existing supply is reaching capacity and consideration should be given to an upgrade of infrastructure or alternative water sources within the next decade. The Wannon Water sewerage treatment system was recently upgraded and is able to meet the needs of the community for the foreseeable future.

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