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Planning certainty essential

18/4/2019

7 Comments

 
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Clear guidelines on development in Bass Coast will help us balance growth and protection of what we most value, writes Mayor Brett Tessari

By Brett Tessari
 
LAST year the council requested authorisation from State Planning Minister Richard Wynne to begin the planning scheme amendment process for a proposed development of some 480 residential blocks on approximately 53 hectares of land in Cape Paterson North.
 
The Minister recently informed the council that he will defer the process until a Distinctive Area and Landscape review of Bass Coast is “significantly advanced”.
 
While the delay won’t please the developers, I’m confident that the review will ultimately result in clear guidelines that balance growth in Bass Coast with the protection of what we most value in this very special place we call home.

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The review project involves strategic planning work to determine if changes should be made to the settlement boundary of Cape Paterson.
 
Declaring Bass Coast a Distinctive Area and Landscape was a 2018 pre-election commitment of the Andrews Government to recognise and protect distinctive areas and landscapes in our shire.
 
The council had advocated for Phillip Island to be declared a distinctive area and landscape before last November’s state election. The State Government agreed but determined it should include the whole shire. Bass Coast is one of four Victorian shires recognised for its distinctive landscapes.
 
How long the Cape project will be held up is the $64 million question. The State Government promised the Distinctive Area and Landscape statement would be developed within its first year in consultation with the local council and residents who know their community best.
 
The council is working with the Department of Environment Water Land and Planning to progress the project but we don’t know yet how long the process will take.
 
It’s a little bit daunting at the moment for developers but I think as time goes on, developers will welcome a clear direction. One thing I hear, with my other hat on as a real estate agent, is that developers are told different things, depending on who they talk to at the council. They can be told a different version of what they can and can’t do.
 
The distinctive areas landscape process will result in a strategic plan for Bass Coast that sets clear parameters on what developers can achieve in Bass Coast. It’ll help developers know what they can and can’t do before they get here.
 
The review will provide guidelines on town boundaries, height restrictions on what can be built in certain areas, housing density, inundation levels, and the protection of important areas in Bass Coast.
 
I’m really quite happy that all this will be explored. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, more and more people want to come and live in our area. I think we have to be sensitive to our environment and what’s attracted us to live here.
 
How do we balance development and protection of the environment in a growth area? The layman’s answer is “Carefully”.
 
I am for development but it has to be done in the context of what we love about Bass Coast Shire. I think the DAL strategic plan will help protect certain areas of the shire. Overwhelmingly the Cape Paterson community wants to restrict growth. Phillip Island people have indicated they want to restrict growth on the island. We have to be careful with our small coastal hubs.
 
Most of the growth will be in Wonthaggi, which has been earmarked as the regional hub. The north-east precinct alone provides land for about 5000 new homes. The farmland around Wonthaggi means it has the capacity to grow. Now we need to put the infrastructure into place to ensure Wonthaggi can handle the growth.
 
When I was growing up, we seemed to be stuck on 4000 or 5000 for a long time. I think we could see the town growing to 20,000 in our time, which is really remarkable.
 
Brett Tessari is Mayor of Bass Coast Shire and a Wonthaggi real estate agent. 
7 Comments
Nat
19/4/2019 03:06:51 pm

Brett, good to hear some balance here. "I am for development but it has to be done in the context of what we love about Bass Coast Shire.
"Phillip Island people have indicated they want to restrict growth on the island. We have to be careful with our small coastal hubs."
The distinctive areas landscape strategic plan for Bass Coast will hopefully set clear parameters.
Developers understanding accurately what they can and can’t do before they get here is a win-win for everyone.

Reply
min beaumont
1/2/2020 03:37:00 pm

Well said Nat but BCS should go by their own strategic planning themselves as they seem to move the goal posts to suit whatever development they want to tick a box on. Just like they have done with planning to develop a Regional Skate Park in Newhaven's Grayden's Memorial Park against the views and the needs of the community who reside there and right at the gateway to the natural attraction. Yes concrete bowls, a competition standard Regional facility to use for events and at night which will destroy our perfect environmentally tranquil park that all age group's utilise from babies, to the elderly, to all the disabled groups who gather there. Yes it would be nice if the above reporting was remotely true when it comes to BCS following their own planning rules. But by the experience of the distraught Newhaven residents who have gone unheard on this topic, its far from true.

Reply
PAMELA J Gill JP
19/4/2019 04:13:08 pm

I agree with the previous contributer to the Bass Coast Post. Councillors with big ideas of increasing the boundries of the shire when existing developments are still not finished. All councillors from years back should hang their heads in shame for not biting the bullet and
going ahead with all the un-made roads througout the shire. This has not only allowed the cost to rise but it is also, a big burden on the home owners.
Why i ask didn't the Shire use VCAT that's what they are there for. .
This does not alter the fact that this infrastructure has to be done sooner rather than later.

Reply
James
19/4/2019 05:45:29 pm

The mayor and councillors represent the residents of Bass Coast, not property developers who don't even live here. Meanwhile in places like Jam Jerrup it has been almost 50 years and still no sealed roads or pavements let alone mains water or sewerage.

Reply
Frank W Schooneveldt
20/4/2019 06:31:42 am

Brett I am also pro development that is done in a sustainable way and that protects the environment for everyone.
Infrastructure issues in the Bass Coast are a major issue and needs to be addressed in a long term plan.
We need to use the strength of the Shires Balance sheet to borrow funds and fix the dirt roads in Cape Paterson and other areas as a priority.
Cheers

Reply
Anthont Egan
21/4/2019 02:02:01 pm

Brett great work by all concerned the BCSC attitude does proud to walk on Country respectfully Caring & Protecting.
We rhe people need to take same responsible care in 2019.
Anthony Egan Bunurong Boon Wurrung Traditional Custodian Bass Coast.

Reply
min beaumont
1/2/2020 03:27:24 pm

So Brett, Does Bass Coast Shire follow their own rules stated here when they go in to destroy the islands environment and township character? As in what you are developing and destroying in the Grayden's Memorial Park in Newhaven with an inappropriate Regional Skate Park facility at the gateway and at the unique environmental entrance to Phillip Island at the sacrifice of our only township park when 90 percent of the township oppose it?

Reply



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