Prosperous Places Project

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Surf Coast Council with the support of the Victorian Government is commencing a major strategy called the Prosperous Places Project to better understand how to positively and proactively shape the Surf Coast’s future economic ecology.


Have Your Say

Complete the Online Survey by clicking the button below. 

Prosperous Places Online Survey

Please refer to the Discussion Paper - Prosperous Places(PDF, 5MB) on this page to provide some more context to the questions in the survey. 

If you would rather, you can also fill out the survey form(PDF, 502KB) and email it to Council (info@surfcoast.vic.gov.au), or send it by post to PO Box 350, Torquay, VIC 3228.

Drop-In Sessions Postponed

Given the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, our focus for consultation will now be capturing comments on our online survey or the Surf Coast Business Collective Page on FacebookThe planned face-to-face drop-in sessions advertised have been postponed until further notice.

We really value your comments and encourage you to share the website link and invite everyone to take part.Thanks for your flexibility. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to your awesome ideas. 

Why is the Prosperous Places Project necessary?

The Surf Coast is blessed with unique environments – coast and hinterland, towns and villages with their own culture and lifestyles, businesses servicing local, national and international markets, a history of innovation and entrepreneurship, and a strong visitor economy. It is, more than ever, a place where people want to live, work and visit.

But, our story is evolving. The early appeal of promenading at the seaside and love of the ocean evolved into the formation of international surf brands, new sports and a whole way of life. Tourism has overtaken agriculture and emerged as our region’s largest provider of local jobs and expenditure. The internet has spawned opportunities for a new wave of innovators and home-based businesses keen to live and work in a place they love. There are also emerging industries that will demand a different skill set and support to any that we have now.

In order for our community and these places to prosper, we must maintain a close eye on what is happening, address any challenges and make the most of every opportunity to strengthen our local economies. It's necessary to shape our future economy so that the Surf Coast prospers in the right ways and addresses the issues that will affect its future.

The Project

The Prosperous Places Project team has a focus on a sustainable future for the Surf Coast and has several key elements.

  • It will classify the existing industries and businesses, so we can understand the economy we have.

  • A major component will examine the emerging industries and skills. This will update/modernise the economic story we know about the Surf Coast with contemporary ideas and demonstrate how we are evolving. It will identify emerging businesses, new ideas and new opportunities and document future skill requirements. 

  • Based on this, we will discuss the economy we need to develop additional local jobs and define what a successful economy looks like.

  • A strategy and action plan will identify the actions and priorities.

Project team

A project team led by consultants, Michael Connell & Associates, is working with Council to deliver the project.Victorian Government Logo

This project is made possible with the support of the Victorian Government. 

Key project milestones

The project team has been conducting initial research and analysis of our local area economies. Consultations have been held with businesses and other stakeholders located in each of our towns. Broader consultation with local businesses are planned in the New Year in March and April 2020. View below or click on the link to download the Project Road Map(PDF, 308KB).

Prosperous Places Road Map Image

Engaging our community

This project will engage and inform businesses and the community through various stages, and the resulting evidence-based strategy will provide a plan for the future of the Surf Coast as a place to live, work, operate a business, or visit. The project is being supported by the Victorian Government through Regional Development Victoria (RDV).

Business forums will be held in March 2020 on the following dates and times. 

These will be a presentation and discussion format. Each session will run for approximately 1.5 hours.They are scheduled to start and finish on time. NO RSVP is required. All welcome. 

  • Torquay – 3 March,  8:30am – 10:00am, Happy Spaces – Level 1, 4-6 Gilbert Street.
  • Winchelsea* – 4 March,  10am – 12pm, Café La Hoot, 1 Willis Street, Winchelsea.
  • Anglesea  – 11 March,  6:00pm – 7:30pm , Great Ocean Resort 105 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea.
  • Lorne – 12 March,  8:30am – 10:00am, Cumberland Lorne Resort.

* The Winchelsea session is a drop-in session only. Businesses or community are both invited to drop in at any time during this session to leave comments on the key topics. 

The Prosperous Places Business Presentation sessions poster(PDF, 2MB) includes all of the times and dates listed above. 

Follow the progress of Prosperous Places on social media – case studies and key information will be published on the Surf Coast Business Collective Facebook page or follow #ProsperousPlaces.

Given the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, our focus for consultation will now be capturing comments on our online survey or the Surf Coast Business Collective Page on Facebook.

The planned face-to-face drop-in sessions advertised below have been postponed until further notice.

We really value your comments and encourage you to share the website link and invite everyone to take part.

Thanks for your flexibility. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to your awesome ideas. 

Drop in sessions for the community have been postponed. They were scheduled to be held in March 2020 on the following dates and times. 

  • Winchelsea – Wednesday 4 March,  10am – 12pm, Café La Hoot, 1 Willis Street, Winchelsea. 
  • Torquay – Tuesday 17 March, 2pm-6pm, Surf Coast Sport & Rec Centre Multi-purpose room, Beach Road, Torquay.
  • Anglesea – Wednesday 18 March, 2pm- 6pm, Anglesea Memorial Hall, McMillan St, Anglesea.
  • Lorne – Tuesday 24 March, 2pm-6pm, Lorne Community House meeting room.
  • Deans Marsh – Wednesday 25 March, 4pm-6pm, Deans Marsh Community Hall

The Prosperous Places Community Engagement Drop-In sessions poster(PDF, 1MB) includes all of the times and dates listed above. 

Follow the progress of Prosperous Places on social media – case studies and key information will be published on the Surf Coast Business Collective Facebook page or follow #ProsperousPlaces.

Media Release:  

Newsletters: regular newsletters will be issued to keep you informed. Subscribe to the Prosperous Places newsletter

  • Newsletter #1: 21 February - Introducing Prosperous Places: What is the economy we need?
  • Newsletter #2: 5 March - Discussion Paper and Online Survey live. 

Information papers: will be issued in advance of the community and business engagement sessions.

Social media: case studies and key information will be published on the Surf Coast Business Collective Facebook page. #ProsperousPlaces