Baines Crescent Precinct Plan
OUR ASK:
Surf Coast Shire Council is seeking $350,000 in government funding to deliver the Baines Crescent Precinct Planning.
This investment will support technical studies, expert consultancy, stakeholder engagement, and the preparation of a high quality, implementable planning framework. Council will co-contribute through in-kind support, project management, and alignment with existing strategic work.
Download the brief(PDF, 751KB)
The Baines Crescent precinct is at the heart of Torquay’s globally recognised surf industry and is home to major surf brands, cultural and community facilities, and significant commercial land. Its location at the gateway to the Great Ocean Road also gives it an important role in Torquay’s visitor economy.
Precinct planning will provide a coordinated vision for the area’s future, bringing together land use, urban design, transport, economic development and community needs. It will identify opportunities to create jobs, attract private investment, improve public spaces and infrastructure, and strengthen Torquay’s unique surf and cultural identity.
With much of the commercial land held by a small number of landowners, the precinct has strong potential for coordinated change. A clear, evidence-based planning framework will provide the certainty needed to guide investment and ensure future development delivers lasting benefits for the community, visitors and the broader Victorian economy.
Project Scope
The Baines Crescent precinct planning will deliver:
- Integrated Land Use Framework: Define precinct structure and character, determine optimal uses across commercial, cultural, recreational, and mixed-use opportunities, supporting both local needs and international tourism.
- Urban Design and Place-Making Strategy: Create a distinctive coastal precinct with high-quality public spaces, active frontages, and design guidelines that reflect Torquay’s surf heritage.
- Transport and Access Plan: Improve connectivity, parking, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and public transport integration to manage peak visitation and reduce congestion.
- Economic Development Strategy: Identify opportunities to attract investment, support local businesses, grow employment and foster entrepreneurial activity in tourism, retail, and creative industries.
- Stakeholder and Community Engagement: Undertake consultation to ensure the precinct reflects community values and industry needs.
Benefits
Investment in the Baines Crescent precinct planning will unlock significant economic, social, and cultural benefits:
- Economic Growth and Jobs
Strengthen Torquay’s role as a premier tourism destination and entrepreneurial hub, increasing visitation, extending length of stay, and supporting local employment.
- Private Investment Attraction
Provide certainty to developers and investors through a clear, coordinated planning framework.
- Improved Liveability
Deliver high-quality public spaces and infrastructure that enhance the experience for residents and visitors alike.
- Transport Efficiency
Reduce congestion and improve accessibility, particularly during peak tourism periods.
- Cultural Recognition
Celebrate and reinforce the area’s global surf identity, supporting events, innovation, and cultural tourism.
- Strategic Alignment
Advance key government priorities in regional development, tourism growth, and sustainable urban planning.
Project Status
The need for coordinated precinct planning for Baines Crescent has been clearly identified through Council’s strategic planning processes and ongoing engagement with local businesses, the surf industry, and the community.
Council is undertaking market sounding for the precinct in mid-2026.
A coordinated approach will unlock the precinct’s potential
Baines Crescent is at an important point in its future; with significant commercial land, major surf and cultural organisations, and its strategic location at the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, the precinct has the potential to become a stronger economic, cultural and community destination for Torquay.
Government investment in precinct planning will give Council, landowners, businesses and the community a shared framework for making that potential a reality while supporting investment, creating jobs, fostering better connections, improving public spaces, and protecting the character that makes Torquay distinctive.
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