Rural Strategy - Surf Coast Shire

Surf Coast Shire Rural Strategy Review
Final Report
Map 3 shows where in the Shire dwelling permits were issued between 1997 and 2006.
Most approvals for dwellings were in the Modewarre, Winchelsea, Moriac, Bambra, Deans
Marsh and Wensleydale areas.
Note that the permit audit indicated that 209 permits for dwellings had been granted since
1997. The discrepancy of 64 dwellings is thought to relate to dwellings being granted a
permit but not being constructed and new tenements proved through detailed title
investigations that were not known when the 1997 tenements were mapped.
Map 4 provides a breakdown of the size of the tenements still vacant in 2006. Of note is the
number of small tenements, approximately 50 less than 80 hectares, between Torquay and
the Princes Highway. With much of the land in this area having average to poor agricultural
quality, these tenements are not of a sufficient size to support a viable farm business. The
high land values across the Shire are likely to see these tenements purchased for rural
lifestyle purposes.
It is considered that the existing tenement provisions have proved to be an effective tool in
managing, among other things, housing development in the rural areas of the Shire. Based
on existing tenements controls “only” 161 additional dwellings are capable of being
developed in the rural areas of the Shire. While this number may be considered large, it is
considered that demand is far greater than this. It is therefore suggested that the existing
tenement provisions should be retained as their removal will otherwise likely result in an
increased pressure for additional dwellings throughout the rural areas.
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