Rural Strategy - Surf Coast Shire

Surf Coast Shire Rural Strategy Review
Final Report
1.4.1 Deans Marsh
Location/Description
Deans Marsh is a small town located on the western fringe of the Shire in the northern
foothills of the Great Otway National Park. There are 45 homes in and around the town
serviced by a school, shop and church in the town centre.
Existing land use
Farming is the predominant land use of the land surrounding the Deans Marsh township.
Previously a noted dairying district, many properties are now being farmed for lifestyle
purposes. A number of tourist uses are developing in the area, particularly along the road to
Lorne and around Pennyroyal such as bed and breakfast and cabin accommodation.
Timber plantations is also a common use on the more steeply undulating land.
Agricultural quality
The land immediately associated with Deans Marsh Creek forms a narrow ribbon of Class 2
(high) agricultural quality land. Note that some of this high agricultural quality land is within
the Town Zone.
The remaining land is Class 2-3 (high to average) agricultural quality with the quality moving
sharply from high to moderate as the land becomes more steeply undulating.
Landscape values
The area straddles the Deans Marsh-Lorne Road and the Winchelsea Deans Marsh Road
and incorporates the scenic agricultural landscape at the northern foothills of the Otway
Ranges. The boundaries are defined by a landscape unit based approximately on a
viewshed from the township of Deans Marsh.
The area is characterised by rolling topography with creek valleys (the most significant being
the Deans Marsh Creek) rising from the flat pastoral land of the north to the hilly Otway
Ranges in the south. There are significant stands of native vegetation and plantation
forestry. While the views relatively enclosed, occasional views across the plains to the
north, and to the hills in the south may be enjoyed.
The area around Deans Marsh is characterised by a number of scenic landscape values:
Landform features such as the rolling hills and vales with incised creek valleys.
The combination of both enclosed views and occasional broad long range views,
including views to the plains in the north and views south to the Otway Ranges.
Landscape edges in the area such as the shift from cleared land to dense native
bushland (of the Otway Ranges), and the creek valleys.
The rural agricultural landscape with smaller scale farming and significant stands of
native vegetation and plantation forestry;
The historic/rural township featuring white weatherboard houses with coloured
colourbond roofing set in a treed valley.
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