THE third iteration of a planning application to subdivide the Sandy Point Caravan Park into individual lots has been made to the South Gippsland Shire Council.
The first application to subdivide the caravan park, located at 89 Beach Parade, Sandy Point, into 14 lots was made in February 2021.
A second application to subdivide was made in June 2023, which was subsequently rejected by Council.
Council refused the application for various reasons including inconsistency with Clauses 11, 12, 13, and 15 of the South Gippsland Planning Scheme, failure to meet objectives and guidelines of the township zone and overlays, inadequate consideration of future climatic conditions and the lands constraints and opportunities, issues regarding roadside vegetation, defendable space, vehicle access and insufficient effluent and stormwater management.
The applicant appealed Council’s decision at the Victorian Civil and Administration Tribunal (VCAT), which was also rejected by VCAT in October 2024.
The most recent application has a number of key changes, including reducing the number of residential lots from 13 to 11, providing for larger allotments, better neighbourhood character and the ability to retain vegetation.
The applicant has addressed issues relating to bushfire overlays, trees, land constraints and opportunities through re-designing dwellings, driveways and implementing landscaping.
A plan has been put in place to address wastewater and effluent management.
The updated application states that these changes “further reduces the impacts and reinforces the applicants intent to accommodate a responsive subdivision and development proposal for the land.”
Objections to the subdivision have once again been submitted by the Sandy Point Community Group Committee, who have also put a call out for others to do the same, stating on their Facebook page:
“Our full objection is now submitted to Council and is available to read on our website sandypoint.vic.au/news/caravan-park-subdivision-2025.
“If you agree with any of our responses, please feel free to use them in your own submission. A number of submissions (no matter how brief) need to be sent in to ensure that the application goes to a Council meeting before a decision is made. We therefore encourage you to submit an objection – it is not too late.”
The Sentinel Times contacted the president of the Sandy Point Group, Michelle Jelleff, who stated the group are not willing to comment until the process has been completed.
The group’s two key objections, as detailed on their website, are:
“That the form of the subdivision, if approved, could be improved by maintaining the two existing entry points with an internal roadway so that the perimeter of the caravan park/subdivision remains as is, with no conflict between driveways, parking, vegetation, and pedestrian and bicycle movement.”
“That the loss of community benefit should be offset by a public open space contribution, as is commonplace in other jurisdictions in relation to planning applications such as this. Our view is that the most beneficial location for a camping site is in the town centre, where it provides benefit to businesses and access to the patrolled beach. Its loss, if subdivision is approved by Council and the Catchment Management Authority, could be compensated in part by the creation of a village green which would augment various community activities.”
