Rural Strategy - Surf Coast Shire

Surf Coast Shire Rural Strategy Review
Final Report
3.3 Local Planning Policy
The key clauses of the current scheme relevant to this review are now summarised.
Surf Coast Shire Vision, Goals and Objectives
The Surf Coast Shire’s goal is to “achieve world-wide recognition for its unique blend of
natural environment and quality of life which offers the best of all worlds to its residents,
stakeholders and visitors” and is committed to:
Preserving and enhancing our natural environment.
Promoting sustainable tourism and other business development.
Developing and communicating a rural policy.
In it’s 2020 vision, the Shire nominated the following objectives:
To conserve our coastal and rural environments.
To discourage rural subdivision for hobby farms in areas of good to high agricultural
value.
To prevent ribbon development in coastal areas.
To maintain green belts or buffer zones between towns.
To designate and protect sustainable agriculture areas.
The Shire acknowledges the value of the environment and landscape and seeks to:
Manage the diverse environmental values of the Shire in a sustainable manner by
balancing the needs of present and future generations with the protection of biodiversity
and natural processes.
Preserve and enhance scenic landscapes and cultural heritage values through the
responsible management of land use and development.
With respect to rural land the Shire seeks the following objectives:
To support and encourage growth in the agricultural economy through sustainable and
productive agricultural activities and rural industries.
To minimise the fragmentation and loss of good to high quality agricultural land and
minimise speculative increases in rural land values.
To consolidate rural residential and rural living development within existing areas zoned
for such purposes.
To evaluate opportunities for new rural residential and rural living subdivision only within
those areas specifically identified in the Municipal Strategic Statement as special
investigation areas.
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