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Published on 23 September 2026
We have taken on board community feedback to help shape a revised concept plan for the Aireys Inlet Top Shops precinct. Council endorsed the concept plan during its September meeting in Aireys Inlet. The project aims to improve the layout and function of the town’s top shops area on the Great Ocean Road. Features of the concept plan include improved pedestrian safety and accessibility; retaining existing car parks wherever possible; smaller, flexible seating; landscaped public areas; and managing stormwater sustainably. Councillor Leon Walker said that two rounds of community consultation provided vital input. “Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts,” he said. “Stage one consultation told us there was strong support for improving safety, accessibility and traffic flow while maintaining the precinct's unique coastal village character. “We used that feedback – along with information from technical investigations – to shape a draft concept plan that was tested during stage two. “While the community generally supported improvements to safety and landscaping, there were concerns around the loss of parking and the scale of the proposed community gathering space.” Our staff worked with a landscape architect to prepare the revised concept plan, following 144 survey responses and valuable face-to-face conversations. The plan retains the strongest accessibility, safety, drainage and environmental improvements identified through technical investigations while responding directly to community concerns. “This project is an example of us genuinely listening to locals and going back to the drawing board to come up with an improved concept,” Cr Walker said. “It was encouraging to learn the community acknowledged that the precinct needed improvements, just not at the expense of how they access this important hub.” Many see the Aireys Inlet Top Shops as an essential services hub that supports daily needs alongside hospitality, retail, arts and community-focused businesses. The endorsed concept plan is a key step for the project, which will be assessed alongside other Council priorities for funding opportunities. If funding is secured through external grants, a Special Charge Scheme, future Council budget allocation or a combination of these sources, the next steps would include detailed design, technical investigations, and statutory approvals, prior to construction. “Settling on this preferred concept plan is an important step,” Cr Walker said. “The project now needs funding to be delivered, and that’s the next challenge we’ll be working through. “Council will also continue to consult with stakeholders, including the community, in shaping the future of the precinct.” The top shops improvements project is guided by two long-term Council documents: the Aireys Inlet Top and Bottom Shops Urban Design Framework 2015 and the Aireys Inlet to Eastern View Structure Plan 2015. The project also aligns with current Council goals: that individual township economies and communities are sustainable, and that infrastructure reflects township character whilst meeting future needs. To see the concept plan, community engagement report and for more information, visit our Your Say project page.