About the Project

The Urban Futures Strategy will guide urban growth in the Surf Coast Shire to meet the housing needs of future populations. The strategy will ensure that residential development occurs in appropriate locations, that significant landscapes and the natural environment are protected, and that development aligns with community aspirations.

A key driver for the project is the release of the Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy (DAL), which impacts settlement planning for the municipality.

The Strategy will address the following questions:

  1. What level of population growth should be accommodated in the Surf Coast Shire?
  2. What are the options for accommodating this growth, e.g. new subdivisions, higher densities, other?
  3. Which locations are suitable for additional growth?

Phase 1 Community Engagement

The first phase of community engagement was completed in December 2023. This first phase provided an introduction to the project and included three community 'drop-in' information sessions and an on-line survey. The Phase 1 of Community engagement on the UFS was integrated with the Planning Scheme Review consultation, and the reports for both projects were publicly released together to enable the community to view key documents simultaneously as the projects closely inter-relate with each other.

The Community Engagement Report provides details of key engagement activities undertaken and a summary of engagement findings for both projects.

Next Steps

The next important stage of the project will see the project team working through the issues and opportunities identified through the Phase 1 community engagement. The findings from the phase 1 engagement will be used to inform the preparation of the strategy.

Once prepared the draft Strategy will be presented to the community and stakeholders for review and comment. This will form part of the phase 2 community engagement. Submissions to the draft will inform the final preparation of the Urban Futures Strategy which will be presented to the Surf Coast Shire Council for adoption.

Find out more

The Planning Scheme Review and the Urban Futures Strategy are inter-related projects. To find out more, view the FAQ section or visit the Planning Scheme Review project page.

For all other enquiries, contact the Strategic Planning Team directly at info@surfcoast.vic.gov.au or alternatively call 5261 0600.