THE San Remo Structure Plan was adopted at the June 2025 Bass Coast Shire Council meeting, but what will be the next steps for the project? Will the poorly designed road network that gives access to the second most visited tourism destination in Victoria, Phillip Island, be a priority?
Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor Rochelle Halstead said she recognised the lack of future planning for the San Remo township in her first term with council and has advocated strongly for the Structure Plan.
“The plan was developed with a local community reference group and broader community engagement to identify the needs of the township,” said Cr Halstead.
“It provides a strong foundation from which to apply for grants that will deliver on the ground outcomes that will improve the aesthetics of our town for locals, businesses and visitors. We can’t keep putting this work off.
“Phillip Island Road needs to be addressed urgently. It is the number one regional road priority for the Gippsland Region and for Bass Coast.”
Seen as a growth area, the San Remo Traffic Impact Assessment highlights that without road upgrades, average delays at the intersection of Potters Hill Road and Phillip Island Road would reach between 50 to 80 minutes, and delays at Back Beach Road and Bergin Grove would average between 20 to 40 minutes during peak times once the growth front develops.
Page 43 of the access and movement study recognises that the student enrolment at the San Remo Campus of Bass Coast College will also increase alongside residential growth, already expecting attendance of 500 students in 2026. Therefore, putting pressure on the roads already.
The plan also recommends advocating to the State government for a series of actions aimed at improving public transport services in San Remo.
Cr Halstead said, as San Remo has been identified as a population growth area through the Victorian Government’s Distinctive Area and Landscape Policy, the community cannot wait any longer for this road to be addressed.
“High season is upon us once again; we will hear cries of frustration and witness risky manoeuvres as people attempt to navigate their way around.
“The time to address it is now, given that the state has committed funds to the bridge, the access roads to it should be part of the project!”