A key step to implement Moriac Structure Plan

Published on 25 March 2026

Council will request an independent panel to consider submissions on a planning scheme amendment that will guide land use and development decisions in Moriac over the next decade.

Council made the decision at its 24 March Council meeting, which welcomed 36 community members to Modewarre Memorial Hall.

The proposed amendment – known as Amendment C145surf Moriac Structure Plan 2023 Implementation – will introduce a new framework plan and local policies into the Surf Coast Planning Scheme.

It was placed on public exhibition from 18 September to 19 October 2025, with six submissions made.

Two relating to the direction of future growth within the town were unresolved, prompting Council to refer the submissions to an independent panel to ensure the views are properly considered.

Surf Coast Shire Councillor Adrian Schonfelder thanked all submitters.

“The highly engaged Moriac community was vital in shaping the Moriac Structure Plan, telling us that residential development should be incremental to help protect the town’s treasured rural character,” Cr Schonfelder said.

“This amendment will enable us to implement the key strategies and actions from the structure plan into our planning scheme, so we want to make sure each view is carefully considered before it’s adopted.”

Council will request the Minister for Planning to appoint an independent panel.

“We look forward to receiving the panel’s report and the recommendations,” Cr Schonfelder said.

Council was supportive of a change requested in a Department of Transport and Planning submission. It responds to community road safety concerns and seeks to limit the number of new lots with direct access from Hendy Main Road. Instead, access would be via new internal roads.

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority lodged a supporting submission.