IT’S known as the ‘DAL’ - a process whereby the Bass Coast Shire Council’s distinctive areas and landscapes are protected under a new Statement of Planning Policy (SPP), being developed by the state government in partnership with local government and traditional owners.
But so drawn out has the review been, considering such proposals as locking up many of the settlement boundaries for shire’s townships, that the government has had to “re-declare” Bass Coast as a Distinctive Area and Landscape so the process can continue.
One problem with that is the Bass Coast Shire Council’s planning response will remain in a state of flux while that is going on with some of the shire’s own policy reviews delayed or left incomplete while they wait for the state government to get its act together.
Meanwhile, the anxiety continues for the members of the Cape Paterson community who are worried about significant expansion of the township on the north side.
It doesn’t provide much confidence that the government will be able to discharge the powers it is taking away from councils, under such initiatives as Victoria’s huge housing plan and in response to IBAC’s investigation of alleged planning corruption at a council level.
The ‘re-declaration’ of Bass Coast was announced on Thursday, October 26 by Bass MP Jordan Crugnale.
The Bass Coast Shire area, said Ms Crugnale, contains distinctive rural and coastal landscapes, significant biodiversity and cultural heritage values, productive agricultural land and natural resources, and was first declared under the landmark DAL legislation in 2019.
“I want to assure our community that the DAL is well progressed and that it is being redeclared as the Act requires that a Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) be prepared, endorsed and approved within one year of the declaration commencing,” said Ms Crugnale.
The draft Bass Coast Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) was prepared by the former Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in collaboration with Traditional Owners – the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Bass Coast Shire Council, other agencies and authorities, and with local communities.
During the public consultation in 2022, a total of 747 written public submissions were received and the former Minister for Planning referred the draft SPP and all written submissions to a standing advisory committee for independent advice.
The public hearings were held between March and April of this year and the independent committee submitted its report of findings and recommendations to the Minister for Planning on 22 June 2023.
This report is under consideration, said Ms Crugnale.
Jordan Crugnale went on to say that “given the significant number of submissions received, the important issues raised and input from local communities and stakeholders, the Bass Coast has been redeclared to allow more time for the SPP to be finalised, endorsed and approved in consideration of the Committee’s report”.
Several factors have delayed the program from when it was first declared back in October 2019, Ms Crugnale explained, including the pandemic and also the volume of submissions received and the decision to refer it to the standing advisory committee.
“To do this properly and well, having the formal hearings was imperative given just how active, invested and connected our local community is to where they live,” Ms Crugnale said.
“All public submissions and the report of the standing advisory committee are under consideration, which inform the finalisation of the SPP.
“The process from then is to seek endorsement by responsible public entities and Ministers responsible for those entities as required by the Act. Once endorsed, the Minister for Planning will determine whether the SPP should be referred for recommendation to the Governor in Council for approval in accordance with section 46AY of the Act. Once approved it will be operational.
“It will commence once the decision to approve the SPP made by the Governor in Council and is published in the Victorian Government Gazette.
“Following this, the Bass Coast planning scheme will be amended to give effect to the approved SPP. Further planning scheme amendments may occur to implement the policy directions contained in the SPP.
“I want to thank our community and all the stakeholders for their active participation in this process. The hearings were a positive step and brought up matters of complexity that need time for the department to consider.”
“It goes without saying we want to make sure this beautiful part of Victoria continues to be a great place to live, work and visit, is protected from the pressures of development and ensure we make the right decision to preserve what we value here.”
