Fight against ‘overdevelopment’ at Cape Paterson continues

By Nick Sinis

CAPE Paterson residents were out in force as they gathered at the shire’s meeting last week to hear council’s submission regarding the state government’s Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) project.

The DAL is being developed to guide planning in the Bass Coast for the next 50 years, while “protecting” significant economic, environmental and cultural values.

A draft Statement of Strategic Planning (SPP) was open for consultation and closed recently, but a number of community groups, including council, were disappointed with the document.

Cape Paterson residents have long highlighted their concerns regarding a proposal to rezone nearly 53 hectares of land to residential zone across the entire north area of the town.

It was hoped the draft SPP would recommend a settlement boundary reduction in the northern area, but locals discovered this was not the case.

At last week’s council meeting, almost 20 Cape Paterson residents and ratepayer association members gathered to protest their concerns and hear council’s submission to the SPP.

“The final SPP should actually protect the village of Cape Paterson from overdevelopment, but instead – by retaining the expanded settlement boundary – the draft allows for massive development that would change its character forever,” Save Cape Paterson spokesperson Cheryl Padgett said.

“Cape Paterson would change from the size of a village to a town, a town without services. It would rob the village of its quiet, laidback vibe, and have a significant impact on the much-loved local wildlife.

“Cape Paterson is small, with a population of less than 1000 people, but residents are passionate and will continue to speak out on this issue to protect this iconic village now and for future generations.”

Deputy Mayor Cr Leticia Laing said the draft SPP does not go far enough to protect the town’s character, environment and landscapes.

“The evidence supporting this expansion is slim,” she said at last week’s meeting.

“That is why council is pushing for further work to consider a reduction to Cape Paterson’s boundary north of Seaward Drive.

“(We’re) not supporting the boundary as it stands… but we do need a better picture of how housing supply and housing neighbourhood character is going to go across the shire.”

Cr Laing also highlighted there were more than 350 objections to the development in 2019.