VISION

The SPP will include a 50-year vision to guide land use and development in Bass Coast. A draft vision has been prepared based on feedback from the first phase of engagement and is available here Bass Coast Draft Vision.

STATEMENT OF PLANNING POLICY DOMAINS

The SPP will include objectives and strategies for six policy domains. Each policy domain and potential policy approaches are outlined below. Your responses will help guide the strategies to be included in the SPP for specific areas.

Environment and Biodiversity

To protect and enhance the biodiversity and environmental values of the Bass Coast DAL, the SPP could include strategies to:

• Retain and increase native vegetation including establishing biolinks to connect high value ecological areas
• Reduce the impact of weeds and pests
• Set effective planning controls to manage urban development near high value ecological areas
• Introduce land management strategies to reduce urban and agricultural run-off into the natural environment
• Utilise knowledge and practices of traditional custodians to improve land management.

Landscape

To protect and enhance the landscape values of the Bass Coast DAL, the SPP could include strategies to:

• Protect and manage significant rural and coastal landscapes through clear planning controls
• Guide development within settlements, to ensure it is sympathetic to the surrounding landscape through built form controls (e.g. building heights and setbacks)
• Protect key viewing corridors and vantage points
• Protect green-breaks between townships and avoid sprawl along the coast
• Retain and increase native vegetation cover that contribute to significant landscapes.

Heritage

To protect and enhance the heritage values of the Bass Coast DAL, the SPP could include strategies to:

• Actively involve the Bunurong in the management, protection and enhancement of Aboriginal cultural heritage
• Build awareness and knowledge of Bunurong heritage, language and cultural practices
• Identify and monitor sites of heritage significance and fill existing knowledge gaps
• Ensure heritage sites are appropriately protected.

Economy and Infrastructure

To build a sustainable and prosperous Bass Coast economy, the SPP could include strategies to:

• Build a sustainable, year-round visitor economy that aligns with Bass Coast’s landscapes, environment and cultural values
• Protect high value and productive agricultural land
• Facilitate major transport upgrades to the Bass Coast Highway and Phillip Island
• Reinforce and grow the role of Wonthaggi as the major service centre in the region
• Improve and upgrade town centres so they meet the social and economic needs of residents and visitors
• Protect state significant resources and assets including mineral sands, the Victorian Desalination Plant and pipeline, and renewable energy opportunities.

Risks and Resilience

To build resilience to climate change impacts, the SPP could include strategies to:

• Prevent sensitive land uses in high risk bushfire, coastal and riverine flooding areas
• Reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions (for example, prioritisation of public and active transport modes, such as walking and cycling)
• Mitigate coastal erosion risks
• Ensure future land use and development planning aligns and integrates sustainable and resilient water management practices.

Settlement and Townships

To protect and enhance township character while managing future housing growth, the SPP may include strategies to:

• Provide clear direction about the preferred locations for future urban growth by defining a settlement hierarchy and long-term settlement boundaries where required
• Reinforce Wonthaggi as the regional centre and location for long term housing growth
• Manage growth in sensitive coastal townships and hamlets to protect the lifestyle, character and environmental values
• Ensure the design of new housing fits the existing township character through effective built form controls (e.g. building heights, setbacks, landscaping)
• Ensure new development areas are well planned, have appropriate access to infrastructure and services, and respectful of sensitive environments and landscapes
• Encourage a range of housing types to support choice and changing demographics.

PRECINCTS

Please refer to page 6 in the Bass Coast DALs Discussion Paper which outlines the Bass Coast precincts.