THE Bass Coast Shire Council hosted a forum on Tuesday, April 29, with 70 registered attendees, 33 per cent of registrations were from the real estate industry, 33 per cent from the development and planning industry and others from small business and government.
With a buzz in the room, attendees explored the future of San Remo. The session looked at how combining urban design with economic development strategies supports the shire to provide a clear, directed plan for the future of San Remo that the community can get behind.
Greg Box, Bass Coast Shire Council CEO, was the MC for the session and opened by setting the scene more broadly on key projects across Bass Coast and the investment opportunity of Bass Coast.
Nick Felstead, Bass Coast Shire Council Manager Strategy and Growth, provided an update on the San Remo Structure Plan and presented key statistics on San Remo’s growth. Nick also presented some of the early insights from the community consultation, including township character and small-town feel, traffic, the value of tourism and environment and landscape values.
Orlando Harrison, UrbanFold Director, Urban Designer and Architect, explored the role placemaking plays in shaping a township, thinking from a community, environmental and economic lens. Orlando brought insights from his work developing the San Remo Urban Design Framework.
For the panel, Nick and Orlando were joined by Jodie Vogt, co-owner of Phillip Island Hot Springs and Wolfgang Platzer, General Manager of San Remo Fisherman’s Co-Op, bringing a small business, tourism and investment perspective to the conversation.
Wolfgang highlighted the value and uniqueness of Marine Parade being positioned parallel to sea views, as well as the opportunity for connectivity of local events to our main commercial hub.
Jodie highlighted the opportunity of wellness tourism and wellness real estate, as well as the local employment opportunities that the hot springs will bring to the employment landscape here in Bass Coast.
Key questions for the panel looked at how the shire tackles visitation seasonality, tackles traffic flow into San Remo and balances the projected growth with the coastal charm and character of San Remo.