Have your say on Aireys Inlet Top Shops draft design

Published on 13 March 2026

Community input has helped shape ideas to enhance the Aireys Inlet top shops area, with a draft design now ready for feedback.

Keeping with Aireys Inlet’s treasured coastal character, the draft design outlines how the precinct could be safer, easier to move through, and greener – all while supporting the businesses in the top shops strip.

Surf Coast Shire Council’s first round of consultation heard that pedestrian safety and accessibility was most important (70.5%), followed by safer parking and traffic flow (69.1%).

In response to this, the draft design proposes a minimum two-metre-wide continuous path in front of the retail strip, to bring the path up to current-day safety standards and meet accessibility requirements.

Other proposed key elements are:

• New community public space at the northern end for community use, social connection and small-scale events such as a busker or stall.
• Relocated bus stop to the northern end.
• Existing entry moved south.
• Safer pedestrian crossing at Albert Avenue and improved intersection design.
• Relocated accessible parking for safer access to key services.
• Defined zones for vehicles and pedestrians to reduce conflict points.
• Coastal village character maintained through material palette and landscaping.
• Shade trees, seating, bike parking, and community noticeboard.
• Environmental features including permeable paving, stormwater filtration, and increased green amenity.

To achieve improved pedestrian safety and meet accessibility requirements – including the wider, continuous path in front of the retail strip – the draft design proposes changing angle parking from 45 to 30 degrees and reducing car parks in the top shops area by five: from 29 to 24.

All feasible options to retain the existing number of car spaces were explored, however they all required major compromises to safety.

Councillor Mike Bodsworth thanked the community members and business owners who contributed to the draft design.

“The valuable local input was instrumental as Council worked with landscape design specialists, engineers and access experts to understand what’s working, what isn’t, and what should guide the future layout of this important place for the next 15 to 20 years,” he said.

“Now it’s time to check in with the community again in a second round of consultation. 

“The current design is still a draft. Whether you like or dislike something, big or small, please let us know.”

View various elements of the draft plan and complete an online survey at yoursay.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/AireysInletTopShops. The survey will close Friday 10 April.

If Council endorses the final draft design it will be used to seek funding for the construction phase of the project.

“Council has currently not allocated any budget towards implementation,” Cr Bodsworth said.

“For this project to proceed, it relies on community support and we’re likely to need a federal or state government grant or private funding to help deliver the improvements.”