Surf Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape

Home , City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire

Draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy & proposed landscape planning controls.

Acknowledgment We acknowledge and respect the Traditional Owners of the Wadawurrung land and waters, their unique ability to care for Country and deep spiritual connection to it. We honour Elders past and present whose knowledge and wisdom has ensured the continuation of culture and traditional practices. We are committed to genuinely partner and meaningfully engage with Traditional Owners to support the protection of their Country, the maintenance of spiritual and cultural practices and their broader aspirations in the 21st century and beyond.

In 2019, the Victorian Government declared parts of the Surf Coast Shire Council and the City of Greater Geelong — Torquay – Jan Juc and surrounds — a ‘distinctive area and landscape’ under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

To give effect to the declaration, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has prepared: • A draft statement of planning policy (SPP) for the Surf Coast declared area, which creates a framework for the future use and development of land in the area • Proposed landscape planning controls to implement the landscape policies in the draft SPP.

Public consultation on the draft SPP and proposed landscape planning controls is now underway.

DELWP has prepared the draft Surf Coast SPP and The draft SPP and landscape planning controls proposed landscape planning controls together propose long-term protections for the declared with Traditional Owners the Wadawurrung, the Surf area’s unique coastal environments, hinterland Coast Shire, the City of Greater Geelong, responsible areas and township characters. Some settlements public entities and other government agencies. will have long-term protected settlement boundaries to contain their growth and protect their valued Both documents have been informed by two phases coastal and rural hinterland settings. of public engagement, the current Surf Coast and Greater Geelong planning schemes, local councils’ This will provide greater certainty about strategic planning work and further technical opportunities for housing, tourism and studies by DELWP. infrastructure investment that will help create jobs and a strong local economy. Key proposals division of community opinion identified through public engagement: These are the main proposals in the draft Surf Coast SPP and proposed landscape • Option 1: designates the Spring Creek area for planning controls. low-density, ecologically sustainable development and includes it within the Torquay–Jan Juc protected settlement boundary A vision for the next 50 years: the draft SPP’s vision is that the Wadawurrung, governments, • Option 2: designates the Spring Creek area public land managers, businesses, residents and outside the Torquay – Jan Juc protected visitors work together to ensure the declared area’s settlement boundary and has it forming part of the green break between Torquay – Jan Juc unique values and distinctive attributes — the and Bellbrae. A protected settlement boundary things people love about the area — are protected, would be applied at Duffields Road and the area enhanced and not degraded over time. between Duffields Road and Bellbrae would be rural land. Objectives and strategies to protect and conserve the declared area’s unique values and distinctive Torquay -Jan Juc housing change areas: attributes, which are its: To accommodate housing supply while retaining the • Rich Aboriginal cultural heritage: the declared highly valued coastal character of Torquay–Jan Juc, area is of great significance to the Wadawurrung. areas are proposed for:

• Environment and biodiversity, including the • Minimal or incremental change: existing habitat of endangered and threatened species, residential areas are mostly identified as such; and distinctive places (such as Point Addis Marine National Park, Karaaf Wetlands, Breamlea • Substantial change: an urban consolidation area Flora and Fauna Reserve and other coastal around Torquay Town Centre and areas along the reserves). Surf Coast Highway are identified as such.

• Environmental resilience, including climate Bellbrae and Breamlea: change resilience. Protected settlement boundaries are proposed • Historic heritage: our rich surfing history, culture to limit these settlements to their existing areas. and international attractions (such as Bells Beach This will maintain their village-like characters and and the Great Ocean Road). protect the state-significant landscapes in which • Landscape significance: our dramatic coastal they are located. settings, superb views, woodlands, wetlands and

the rural vistas between settlements. Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Area: The finalisation of a protected settlement boundary • Natural resources and productive land of will be informed by strategic planning work led significance, which support a flourishing economy by the City of Greater Geelong in consultation based on sustainable and responsible tourism, with DELWP once Amendment C395 – Settlement agriculture and natural resources, manufacturing and other industries. Strategy and Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas Framework Plan has been completed. • Strategic infrastructure and built form of significance: Torquay–Jan Juc is a vibrant Significant Landscape Overlays: and cohesive regional service centre, and These are proposed to better protect most areas development must be sympathetic to the coastal of the state-significant Torquay Coast, Coastal and hinterland landscape setting. Saltmarsh and Woodland landscape and the nationally significant Bells Beach to Point Addis Torquay – Jan Juc protected settlement boundary: landscape. A protected settlement boundary is proposed for Torquay – Jan Juc, with two options proposed for the Spring Creek area — the area is currently subject to a proposed Precinct Structure Plan through Amendment C114. This reflects the strong

2 Draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy Information Sheet Have your say Advisory Committee DELWP invites written submissions from the The Minister for Planning has appointed the general public, community groups, responsible Distinctive Area and Landscapes Standing Advisory public entities, industry representatives and other Committee, which will consider all submissions, hold interested parties about the Draft Surf Coast public hearings (at which submitters can present) Statement of Planning Policy and the Draft Surf and provide an independent report to the Minister Coast Statement of Planning Policy: Proposed for Planning. Landscape Planning Controls. The Advisory Committee will hold a Directions These documents can be found at Engage Victoria. Hearing on Thursday 11 February 2021. Its Public Hearings will commence from Monday 15 March 2021 The submission process is independently managed and are likely to go for several weeks. If you would by Planning Panels Victoria. like to appear before the Advisory Committee, you A submission must state the name and address must make a written submission and complete the of the person making it, and it will be treated as relevant sections on the online form. Hearings are a public document. Proforma submissions and likely to be held in both Torquay and Melbourne petitions will only be counted as one submission, if convened in person, or by video conference if and any contact will be made through the first- COVID-19 restrictions remain. named person. Upon receipt of the Advisory Committee’s report, the Submissions must be lodged through the Engage Minister for Planning will consider the findings and Victoria platform at Engage Victoria before 4.00 a final draft Surf Coast SPP will be prepared and pm Friday 22 January 2021. provided to responsible public entities and Ministers responsible for those entities for endorsement. The Where a submitter is unable to lodge a submission Minister for Planning will then seek the Governor in online, they must contact Planning Panels Victoria Council’s approval for the final draft Surf Coast SPP. through the DELWP Customer Service Centre on 136 186 (select option 6) and request a hard-copy Once approved, the Surf Coast SPP will form part submission coversheet. Each hard-copy submission of the standard provisions of the Victoria Planning must be accompanied by a coversheet issued by Provisions, with immediate effect. Planning scheme PPV. amendments will also be progressed to implement it into the Surf Coast and Greater Geelong planning Submissions will be treated as public documents schemes, to provide a consistent approach to land and will be published on the Victorian Government’s use planning and development across the declared engagement website. Do not include any personal area. information in the body of your submission (such as your email address or phone number). Your submission and your name will be made public.

© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and Water and Planning 2020. therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Accessibility Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use If you would like to receive this the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria as author. The licence does not publication in an alternative format, apply to any images, photographs or branding, including please telephone DELWP Customer the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian Government logo Service Centre 136 186, email customer. and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) logo. To view a copy of this licence, visit [email protected], via the http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ National Relay Service on 133 677 www. ISBN 978-1-76105-318-4 (Print) relayservice.com.au . ISBN 978-1-76105-319-1 (pdf/online/MS word) This document is also available in Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the Portable Document Format at www. State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee delwp.vic.gov.au/planning that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is

3 Draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy Information Sheet d

es l g Area Subject To Detailed n A Environmental Investigation

Future y He w n Settlement H dy Main Rd t Area s

c f r

Low Density Ecologically Sustainable Development Dufﬁelds Rd Torquay - Jan Juc Area

Great O cean Rd

s l l

d Torquay - Jan Juc R

ch ea B s ll e B

ip tr S t rd se a n v u le S u o B n a e c O

Torquay-Jan Juc Option 1

Surf Coast Declared Area Township Area Activity Centre District town

Protected Settlement Boundary Urban-Rural Interface Substantial Change Area Highway

Green Break Future Settlement Area Incremental Change Area Main Road Disclaimer: The State of Victoria does not warrant the Low Density Ecologically Water Body Minimal Change Area Local Road accuracy or completeness of informationin this publication Sustainable Development Area and any person using or relying upon such information does Area Subject To Detailed so on the basis that the State of Victoria shall bear no River Parks and Reserves Armstrong Creek responsibility or liability whatsoeverfor any errors, faults, 4 Draft Surf Coast Statement of PlanningEnvironmental Policy Investigation Information Sheet Transit Corridor defects or omissions in the information. © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2020 d

es l g Area subject to detailed n A environmental investigation

Future y He w n settlement H dy Main Rd t area s

c f r

Dufﬁelds Rd Torquay - Jan Juc

Great O cean Rd

s l l

d Torquay - Jan Juc R

ch ea B s ll e B

ip tr S t rd se a n v u le S u o B n a e c O

Torquay-Jan Juc Option 2

Surf Coast Declared Area Township area Activity centre District town

Protected settlement boundary Urban-rural interface Substantial change area Highway

Green break Future settlement area Incremental change area Main Road Disclaimer: The State of Victoria does not warrant the Low density ecologically Water body Minimal change area Local Road accuracy or completeness of informationin this publication sustainable development area and any person using or relying upon such information does Area subject to detailed so on the basis that the State of Victoria shall bear no River Parks and Reserves Armstrong Creek responsibility or liability whatsoeverfor any errors, faults, 5 Draft Surf Coast Statement of Planningenvironmental Policy investigation Information Sheet Transit Corridor defects or omissions in the information.

Settlements To To Geelong/Melbourne District town – A regional centre with a large Winchelsea diverse population, employment and housing base, and which has strong relationships with surrounding settlements

Village - A small settlement with a small population Low er Dun Hamlet/Locality - A cluster of rural residential eed Rd To dwellings Mount Duneed Bellarine Peninsula Protected settlement boundary

Connewarre Options proposed for consultation Further investigation required 4 Kilometers Settlement boundary Thompson Creek Protected settlement boundary to be implemented subject to local strategic planning work

Landscapes and the environment

Landscapes - Conserve and enhance the declared area’s signiﬁcant landscapes with the greatest d protection provided in areas of highest R signiﬁcance* a

e s Nationally signiﬁcant landscape: Bells Beach to e Breamlea Point Addis y gl

To n w

A State-signiﬁcant landscape: Torquay Coast, H Winchelsea t Coastal Saltmarsh and Woodland s

o H c *Areas not designated as nationally or state endy M f ain Rd r signiﬁcant are the regionally signiﬁcant Mount u

S Duneed Plain and Surrounds landscape

Deep Creek Road corridor views – Manage the development of infrastructure to maintain views to the rural hinterland and/or coast

Waterways and biolinks – Conserve and restore native vegetation along waterway corridors and biolinks. Torquay - Jan Juc Aboriginal cultural heritage and historic heritage Bellbrae The entire declared area and beyond is Wadawurrung Country. The declared area’s Aboriginal cultural heritage values must be d conserved, strengthened and promoted in R partnership with the Wadawurrung.

Spring Creek c

a Landmarks – Ensure that Bells Beach and the e Great Ocean Road are accessible, well maintained

B and sustainably managed s l l e Tourism, agriculture, natural resources and infrastructure B

Green breaks – Potential location for agricultural, natural resources and/or nature-based tourism land uses that protect and enhance signiﬁcant landscape features Armstrong Creek Transit Corridor Study Area – Potential location of a sustainable public transport link connecting Torquay-Jan Juc with Geelong and beyond Rd an ce t O ea Gr Movement network – Support a sustainable transport network that enhances the declared area’s distinctive attributes To Great Ocean Road Support recycled water use Region Highway

Main Road

Local Road Draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy Information Sheet 6 Surf Coast Declared Area