NOT everyone may have been happy about having to call a special meeting at short notice to consider the long-awaited Bass Coast Council Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) but it did make the State Government imposed deadline.
Designed to provide a 50-year vision for land use planning the SPP identified what makes the region distinctive and outlined strategies to preserve and enhance those attributes for current and future generations.
The culmination of almost six years of policy preparation councillors were given no choice but to either endorse or refuse to endorse the final draft of the SPP. Seven councillors voted in favour, Cr Edwards against and Cr Tessari was absent.
Council’s endorsement of the SPP drew enthusiastic applause from the Cape Paterson Residents and Ratepayers Association and Save Western Port Woodlands Group gathered in the public gallery where it was standing room only.
Bass Coast Shire was first declared a distinctive area and landscape under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 in October 2019.
The Victorian Government has now legislated to protect and enhance distinctive areas and landscapes for the enjoyment of current and future generations with the Bass Coast Statement of Planning Policy taking effect immediately.
Endorsing the SPP Cr Mat Morgan said he supported fighting for a safe climate future and supported caring for Country as this was unceded Bunurong land.
“The State Government has made a positive step here, but it is still yet to climb the hill which our community and environment need them to climb,” said Cr Morgan.
“The Statement of Planning Policy finally recognises the Western Port Woodlands as an area of outstanding environmental significance.
“This is the last piece of significant coastal woodland in the region.
“If you were blindfolded and dropped in the woodlands you’d think you’re in a non-colonised haven, full of precious flora and fauna which so many citizen
scientists have spent years
surveying, in desperate hope for their protection.
“The SPP is right, the woodlands are of outstanding environmental significance, so why are we still mining it for sand we don’t need?
“We need an environmental significance overlay to the Western Port Woodlands to ensure their ongoing protection.”
Thanking everyone who’d been involved in what had been a very long process Cr Morgan gave special thanks to the South Gippsland Conservation Society and Save Western Port Woodlands.
Using a quote from his grandfather, Cr Morgan said unless someone like you cares, a whole awful lot, nothing’s going to get better, it’s not.
However, Cr Meg Edwards questioned the short notice given for the special meeting of Council.
Cr Edwards was told the Minister for Planning informed Bass Coast Shire early in June that the final deadline for Council endorsement of the draft Bass Coast SPP was July 18 and failure to meet that deadline may jeopardise the SPP.
“This is the most influential decision we will make in our term of council,” said Cr Edwards.
While acknowledging the work of those involved in the process and the significance of the Western Port Woodlands Cr Edwards said the primary role of councillors was to represent the communities that elected them.
“This SPP is for 50 years, twelve and a half terms of council after us... and for unelected people to have more of a say than elected councillors, I believe, is wrong.”
Despite agreeing with the significance of the woodlands Cr Edwards in the end voted against the motion saying she had grave concerns around the process.
The SPP identified nature-based tourism as one of the main drivers of the Bass Coast economy with the number of visitors projected to double from 1.85 million in 2015 to 3.4 million by 2035, attracting $1.1 billion to the region.
A rubber stamp
Cr Ron Bauer said the motion was a “Shire rubber stamp”.
“I am still concerned about the natural justice afforded to developers in Cape Paterson,” said Cr Bauer.
“They initially invested monies under one set of criteria and have now been confronted with a boundary change which prohibits expansion and locks in the current town boundary.
“I am concerned that the locking-in of town boundaries, the only option is to chop up larger blocks as infill, and after that, the only option is to go up.
“As an Islander, it is my experience that residents would prefer larger allotments against the sardine-can outcomes which are primarily driven by bang for buck.”
Cr Jan Thompson was mindful of the implications of retreat (pg 23 of the report) for those areas facing erosion such as Inverloch.
“I am very concerned for those homeowners who face the threat of retreat with no insurance cover as this is classified as an act of God with no indication from the State Government for compensation,” said Cr Thompson.
“If the state wants retreat then they should be addressing those in the line of fire, or should I say water, and offering appropriate compensation.”
Cr Thompson also expressed concern about the lack of a town boundary around the Adams Estate on Stanley Road, Grantville, saying “it was not good enough to leave this estate in limbo and uncertainty”.
The protected settlement boundaries for Inverloch and Wonthaggi are yet to be defined and will be subject to further strategic planning work and public consultation.
The SPP can be reviewed in 10 years.
