Rural Strategy - Surf Coast Shire

Surf Coast Shire Rural Strategy Review
Final Report
All development and use should be:
Of modest scale, relevant to the land size, surrounding uses and the ability to nestle into
the landscape;
Subservient to the landscape so as not to detract from the quality of the landscape;
Capable of net gain environmental outcomes; and
Self-sufficient in the provision of relevant infrastructure and associated development
costs.
Uses that would not be supported include a convenience shop, equestrian supplies, motor
racing track, hotel, landscape gardening supplies, tavern and similar uses.
In the hinterland behind Lorne and Aireys Inlet, tourism opportunities are constrained by a
requirement that uses such as group accommodation must be in conjunction with farming
under the Rural Conservation Zone. These areas are partially or substantially vegetated,
are adjacent to public land with significant environmental and landscape values and often
have never been used for farming.
The Rural Conservation Zone is the appropriate zone for these areas reflecting their
significant environmental and landscape values and changing the zone to accommodate
tourism would not be appropriate. Council has committed to pursuing with State
Government a change to the requirements of the Rural Conservation Zone that will widen
the scope for tourism opportunities while ensuring that environmental and landscape values
remain protected. If resolution of this issue has not been achieved within 48 months of
adoption of the Strategy, Council has resolved to work with affected landowners to
investigate other options.
While this section of the Strategy has clearly articulated Council’s preferred approach to
tourism in rural areas of the municipality, it is acknowledged that there may be one-off
proposals of a substantial size not associated with agriculture that may have significant
regional benefits. Such proposals would be subject to a rezoning proposal.
It is recommended that Council investigate further via its Tourism Strategy in the Scheme:
Whether any large-scale one-off proposals are appropriate in the Shire;
How such proposals link with the townships; and
Develop appropriate policy around these issues.
With regard to the findings of this Rural Strategy it would be important that such a project
consider the following from a rural perspective:
Why such development requires a rural location and why it cannot be located within a
town;
What are the site selection criteria what would make a site suitable for tourist
development; and
What are the necessary or minimum benefits any proposal should be capable of
demonstrating to warrant consideration of a non-urban location.
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