LOCAL PROVISION QUEENSCLIFFE PLANNING SCHEME 21.02 MUNICIPAL PROFILE The Borough of Queenscliffe is the smallest Borough in Victoria, covering only 13 square kilometres. The predominantly urban Borough was created on 12th May, 1863, and has remained in existence since that time. It is the only Borough in Victoria to retain an elected Council since its establishment. The Borough is located at the eastern tip of the Bellarine Peninsula and forms one side of Port Phillip Heads - opposite Point Nepean in the Mornington Peninsula. It is surrounded by Bass Strait, Port Phillip Bay and Swan Bay on three sides. On its fourth side, it has a land boundary with the City of Greater Geelong. The Borough is approximately 105 kilometres south-west of Melbourne and 35 kilometres east of the regional city of Geelong (Refer to Map B). Physical Features and the Environment The urban areas of the Borough are located on a series of dunes and sandy limestone ridges, which fall towards Port Phillip Bay, Bass Strait, and Swan Bay. The Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait coastlines are characterised by primary dunes covered in remnant coastal vegetation, formal parkland, and beaches. There are also limestone cliffs exposed along the coast at both Point Lonsdale and Shortlands Bluff, which are significant landscape features. Although the township of Queenscliff is located on the Peninsula, it gives the impression of being on an island. It is connected to Point Lonsdale by a slender sand dune isthmus called The Narrows, which separates Port Phillip Bay from Swan Bay. This feature creates a natural break of open space and foreshore reserve between the urban areas of Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale. Almost the entire Borough falls within the Swan Bay Catchment. The northern parts of Point Lonsdale are low lying and once contained a system of wetlands, which flowed into the bay. As Point Lonsdale expanded, most of this system was drained and filled. Lake Victoria is the only substantial remnant. The foreshore of Swan Bay is lined with salt marsh and other coastal wetland vegetation, which gives way at the water margin to tidal flats and seagrass beds. The Borough contains a number of islands in the southern part of Swan Bay, including Swan Island, Sand Island, Rabbit Island, Tip Island, Duck Island and Stingaree Island (Refer to Map A). These islands are largely undeveloped and provide important habitats for flora and fauna. The marine and terrestrial environments of Swan Bay, its foreshore and islands are environmental assets of international significance. They are recognised in treaties (including the Ramsar convention, the JAMBA and CAMBA agreements) and are on the Register of the National Estate. As well as being of high ecological value, the foreshore and marine environments contribute towards urban and landscape character which attracts many people to the Borough. Important local industries (including eco-tourism, recreational and commercial fishing) also rely on the ‘health’ of the environment. Significant issues facing the natural environment in the Borough include the proliferation of pest plants and animals, loss of remnant vegetation through pest plant competition, lack of fire prevention, beach and dune erosion, predation of natural species, altered coastal processes, pollution from harbour and boating activities, pressure from increasing visitor numbers, untreated stormwater from urban areas, litter, and car parking and unsympathetic urban development on and adjacent to the foreshore. The extent of the islands and foreshore are also subject to substantial change due to the large quantity of sand being carried in and out of Port Phillip Bay by natural processes. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.02 PAGE 1 OF 6 9 MAY 2002 LOCAL PROVISION QUEENSCLIFFE PLANNING SCHEME MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.02 PAGE 2 OF 6 9 MAY 2002 LOCAL PROVISION QUEENSCLIFFE PLANNING SCHEME MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.02 PAGE 3 OF 6 9 MAY 2002 LOCAL PROVISION QUEENSCLIFFE PLANNING SCHEME The Urban Areas There are two townships which form the urban area of the Borough; Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale. Most of the urban area is used for housing, which is characteristically of traditional design and at low densities. Detached houses comprise of 92.4% of the existing housing stock. These represents a cross-section of domestic building styles spanning 150 years. Each of the townships has a town centre providing retail and commercial facilities. The larger centre is at Queenscliff and the smaller centre is at Point Lonsdale. Both centres are moving away from their traditional function of providing for the everyday needs of the community. While still retaining a core of basic convenience retailing, restaurants, services and speciality shops have emerged, reflecting tourist led demand and the relatively high incomes of residents. Geelong and Melbourne remain the focus for comparison retailing, whilst the free-standing shopping centres at Ocean Grove and Newcomb are readily accessible for everyday needs. Queenscliff has a more developed commercial sector than Point Lonsdale, including a wide range of services and tourist accommodation. The town centres are also very different in their appearance. Point Lonsdale is confined to a row of early twentieth century and more contemporary buildings, whilst Queenscliff occupies a number of blocks and is characterised by mainly Victorian and early twentieth century architecture. The Borough has one kindergarten, three primary schools and two providers of child-care services. The Borough of Queenscliffe provides a public library service, aged and home care services. Waste is disposed of outside the Borough. In addition to a number of private medical practitioners, the Bellarine Peninsula Community Health Service has a centre at Point Lonsdale providing a range of health and community services. The Borough of Queenscliffe has a significant proportion of Crown land on the foreshore. Foreshore reserves, beaches, and parkland provide a variety of opportunities for passive recreation. There are number of parks and a range of sporting and leisure facilities. The Borough has a good network of pedestrian and bicycle paths. It has boat launching facilities at the J.L Jordan reserve, private berths for recreational boats at Queenscliff Harbour, two yacht clubs, and a surf life saving club. A variety of halls and meeting facilities are also available for indoor activities and meetings. Development of the Towns Prior to European settlement, the Wathaurong tribe occupied lands on the Bellarine peninsula. It is believed that their activities within the Borough were focussed around the current Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. The location of the European settlements of Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale at Port Phillip Heads was driven by the establishment of defence installations to protect Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay during the 19th century. Lighthouses and the Port Phillip Sea Pilots Service were established to guide ships through Port Phillip Heads. The fishing and boat building industries quickly became established. Proximity to Melbourne, Geelong, and Ballarat made Queenscliff and later Point Lonsdale popular resort destinations from the mid 19th Century. This role was strengthened with the advent of rail and paddle steamer links which brought many visitors to the towns. As a result of these developments, Queenscliff and to some extent Point Lonsdale have a rich history, which is reflected in the domestic, commercial and public buildings, high quality streetscapes and wide road reservations, parkland, landscaping and vegetation, military installations, maritime infrastructure, shipwrecks and archaeological sites. Most of these elements are well preserved and contribute strongly to the character of the Borough. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.02 PAGE 4 OF 6 9 MAY 2002 LOCAL PROVISION QUEENSCLIFFE PLANNING SCHEME Regional Context The City of Geelong is the principal settlement and economic centre in the region. Geelong’s significance derives from its: · coastal location with deep water port facilities; · proximity to Melbourne (70km); · good infrastructure connections to Melbourne (Princes Freeway, rail); · role as the region’s industrial, business, administrative and educational centre; and · proximity and ease of access to attractive coastal locations and national parks. With links to Geelong via the Bellarine Highway, Queenscliffe forms one of a number of coastal areas which fall within the economic and commuter radius of Geelong. Travel to work in Melbourne from Queenscliffe is also possible. An attractive and temperate coastal location, high quality built and natural environments have enabled Queenscliffe to develop a significant regional tourism role and to become a retirement location. The introduction of the new car and passenger ferry service between Queenscliff and Sorrento has boosted visitor numbers to Queenscliffe and provides an alternative transport link to the Mornington Peninsula and beyond. The boundary between Queenscliffe and the City of Greater Geelong runs along Fellows Road and divides the urban area of Point Lonsdale between the two municipalities. The Borough contains the long established residential areas of Point Lonsdale, whilst much new residential development falls within the City of Greater Geelong. The Council recognises that residential development in the City of Greater Geelong helps to support the local economy and service provision in Queenscliffe. It provides affordable housing