By Cheryl Padgett
IF YOU live in or visit Cape Paterson, you might have recently encountered some hardy residents braving the cold seeking signatures on a letter to Dan Andrews, and you might also have noticed some new corflutes on fences around the village.
The locals asking for your support are from the Save Cape Paterson from Overdevelopment Group. The group formed in April after the long-awaited draft State Planning Policy (SPP) was found to include the Cape Paterson boundary that had been expanded by the former State Government in 2011. While there was online consultation on the draft SPP, many found it quite difficult to respond.
IF YOU live in or visit Cape Paterson, you might have recently encountered some hardy residents braving the cold seeking signatures on a letter to Dan Andrews, and you might also have noticed some new corflutes on fences around the village.
The locals asking for your support are from the Save Cape Paterson from Overdevelopment Group. The group formed in April after the long-awaited draft State Planning Policy (SPP) was found to include the Cape Paterson boundary that had been expanded by the former State Government in 2011. While there was online consultation on the draft SPP, many found it quite difficult to respond.
Now, with the group’s work, locals can have their voices heard and show the strength of community feeling about the boundary issue. The letter asks the Premier to keep his 2018 pre-election pledge to protect Bass Coast, specifically Cape Paterson, through the SPP processes, and the corflutes reflect that with their “Bring the boundary back” message.
The group wants to show local and state politicians that the community and visitors care about this unique place with its abundance of wildlife, its iconic seaside village character and its laid-back feel – its ‘vibe’. This concern is not just for the present but also for future generations. Anyone who has journeyed around the eastern seaboard and beyond will know that seaside villages such as Cape Paterson are rare.
Until recently, a massive land re-zoning and development amendment was hanging over the village. It would have seen 110 hectares of farming land north of Seaward Drive rezoned to residential and up to 940 dwellings built – Cape Paterson would have doubled in size, along with a massive population increase.
That amendment recently lapsed, but until the Cape town boundary is brought back to Seaward Drive, we still face the possibility of yet another application for rezoning and development.
The group wants to show local and state politicians that the community and visitors care about this unique place with its abundance of wildlife, its iconic seaside village character and its laid-back feel – its ‘vibe’. This concern is not just for the present but also for future generations. Anyone who has journeyed around the eastern seaboard and beyond will know that seaside villages such as Cape Paterson are rare.
Until recently, a massive land re-zoning and development amendment was hanging over the village. It would have seen 110 hectares of farming land north of Seaward Drive rezoned to residential and up to 940 dwellings built – Cape Paterson would have doubled in size, along with a massive population increase.
That amendment recently lapsed, but until the Cape town boundary is brought back to Seaward Drive, we still face the possibility of yet another application for rezoning and development.
Group members prepare for door-knocking in their battle to save Cape Paterson's sea village vibe. This month we had a kitchen table meeting with Bass MP Jordan Crugnale to discuss the issue.
Any development to the north must have adverse impacts. They include increased population in this fragile area; construction issues; hard surfacing and water run-off; interruption to wildlife and corridors; increased car use; increased traffic; increased domestic animals; street lighting; and loss of the intangible heritage of the “gateway to the Bunurong Coast”.
While houses must be built, there is residential land near Wonthaggi that is yet to be taken up and which is close to infrastructure and services that Cape Paterson does not have. Cape Paterson has already done enough to add to housing stock in the Shire with the Blue Circle estate and the more recent ‘The Cape’ (ecovillage) – and there are still about 170 dwellings to be built there. No assessment of recent development impact has been undertaken, or any estimation of the impacts that will occur once completed.
When the boundary was expanded, an independent committee found the development to the west or north should proceed, but not both. Cape Paterson has had the western development; the community now needs to be assured there will be no more so that present and future generations can visit, holiday or live in this coastal village. It’s time to say we’ve had enough development for this village.
Any development to the north must have adverse impacts. They include increased population in this fragile area; construction issues; hard surfacing and water run-off; interruption to wildlife and corridors; increased car use; increased traffic; increased domestic animals; street lighting; and loss of the intangible heritage of the “gateway to the Bunurong Coast”.
While houses must be built, there is residential land near Wonthaggi that is yet to be taken up and which is close to infrastructure and services that Cape Paterson does not have. Cape Paterson has already done enough to add to housing stock in the Shire with the Blue Circle estate and the more recent ‘The Cape’ (ecovillage) – and there are still about 170 dwellings to be built there. No assessment of recent development impact has been undertaken, or any estimation of the impacts that will occur once completed.
When the boundary was expanded, an independent committee found the development to the west or north should proceed, but not both. Cape Paterson has had the western development; the community now needs to be assured there will be no more so that present and future generations can visit, holiday or live in this coastal village. It’s time to say we’ve had enough development for this village.
The Save Cape Paterson from Overdevelopment Group wants the boundary brought back to Seaward Drive and for this to be enshrined in legislation through the SPP.
For many years members of our community, particularly through the Cape Paterson Residents and Ratepayers Association, have been providing well-considered evidence to council, politicians and others to bring the boundary back. Our group is separate from the CPRRA, but has welcomed some support in working for shared aims.
You can assist by purchasing a t-shirt and a corflute. Corflutes are $10 and T-shirts are $25. Contact savecapepat@iinet.net.au or on the ‘nextdoor’ app (search Cape Paterson).
For many years members of our community, particularly through the Cape Paterson Residents and Ratepayers Association, have been providing well-considered evidence to council, politicians and others to bring the boundary back. Our group is separate from the CPRRA, but has welcomed some support in working for shared aims.
You can assist by purchasing a t-shirt and a corflute. Corflutes are $10 and T-shirts are $25. Contact savecapepat@iinet.net.au or on the ‘nextdoor’ app (search Cape Paterson).