Campaign to oppose Cape Paterson expansion continues

By Save Cape Paterson from Overdevelopment

HUNDREDS of Cape Paterson locals and holidaymakers have demonstrated their strong objection to overdevelopment, delivering a letter to the State Premier expressing concerns over the future of the village.

Residents are calling on the Premier Daniel Andrews to make good on his pre-election pledge to permanently protect Bass Coast. 

The letter, prepared by the community group Save Cape Paterson from Overdevelopment and signed by 731 members of the Cape Paterson community, asks the Premier to protect Cape Paterson’s “iconic township character, its wildlife, its natural beauty and its distinctive coastal landscape, now and for future generations”. 

According to the opponents of development, Cape Paterson, which has a population of around 1100, has overwhelmingly and consistently expressed strong concerns about expansion of the established village. 

Claiming a small win, they note a planning application for a development of up to 980 houses to the north of the existing settlement recently lapsed. 

However, concerns remain that Cape Paterson will only be adequately protected if a previous boundary expansion is reversed. 

“[We] want you to honour your 2018 pledge to permanently stop developers ruining the Bass Coast; specifically, our concerns relate to the iconic coastal village of Cape Paterson,” the letter reads. 

“We call on you to return the Cape Paterson settlement boundary to its former position at Seaward Drive and to define it as a ‘protected settlement boundary’…We urge you to hold to your commitment now, during this term of Government.” 

They say the shadow of development has hung over Cape Paterson since former Liberal Planning Minister Matthew Guy agreed to expandd the boundary of Cape Paterson in 2011, paving the way for the rural landscape to the north to be rezoned to accommodate extensive new housing. 

Save Cape Paterson from Overdevelopment spokesperson Cheryl Padgett said, “Cape Paterson has done its bit for housing stock in Bass Coast, with two extensive land developments in recent years.

“The latest, The Cape ‘ecovillage’, has not been completed and its impact is yet to be felt. 

“There is zoned residential land available in Wonthaggi, which has all the services that residents need.”

Signatories say they remain hopeful the Premier will follow through on his commitment to protect Bass Coast, and have invited Mr Andrews to visit Cape Paterson to see for himself what is at stake. 

“You promised us that a re-elected Labor Government would permanently protect the Bass Coast from over development by enshrining planning protection in law, through the Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) process,” the letter reads. 

“However, we were dismayed to discover that the much-anticipated and important draft SPP retained the expanded Cape Paterson boundary, which was controversially, and devastatingly approved by Matthew Guy in 2011.”

Ms Padgett said the letter had been delivered to local member Jordan Crugnale MP, who had undertaken to convey it to the Premier on behalf of the group. 

The delivery of the letter followed a large gathering recently of Cape Paterson residents holding corflutes in front of farmland at the northern edge of the established village.