Over the last two decades Torquay has experienced rapid growth, with 5,500 new homes being constructed, increasing the population by almost 15,000 residents.

A significant outcome of the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) has been the application of protected settlement boundaries around each of declared area towns, including Torquay, Jan Juc and Bellbrae. This effectively prevents further expansion of urban development, beyond the identified Messmate Road Future Urban Area.

Over the next decade Torquay will continue to play a significant role in accommodating future population growth in Surf Coast Shire.

In Torquay-Jan Juc, the majority of new development will be directed to activity centres, tourism precincts, substantial change areas, and the designated Messmate Road Future Urban Area.

The Strategy includes directions for further strategic work to plan for this growth within the protected settlement boundary of the township.

The Strategy includes principles for Torquay-Jan Juc to:

• Maintain the unique township character and surrounding landscape character of Torquay-Jan Juc.
• Plan for the housing, infrastructure, and employment needs of the growing population.
• Manage the development of the remaining greenfield land in Torquay-Jan Juc to ensure sustainable outcomes.

Comprehensive strategic planning for the whole of the Messmate Road Future Area is required prior to any rezoning.

In response to the constraints on outward growth and the need to provide for more diverse housing opportunities, the Strategy includes directions to support further work on infill opportunities including to:

• Undertake a precinct plan for the Baines Crescent area and consider opportunities for housing in the precinct; and
• Revisit the Torquay Town Centre Urban Design Framework (2017) and review building heights in the Town Centre to align with the SPP.

Winchelsea is an attractive town that is well located with good access to existing road and rail infrastructure. It offers an affordable alternative to the Greater Geelong housing market.

In recent years, Winchelsea has experienced steady growth, growing from a population of 1,586 in 2016 to a population of 2,032 at the 2021 census.

The Strategy recognises that Winchelsea will play a key role as a principal location to cater for long term growth (along with Torquay), particularly after 2036.

Population modelling undertaken to inform the Strategy, revealed the potential for Winchelsea to grow by between 10,771 and 18,757 residents by the year 2051.This level of growth is beyond the current aspirational planned growth to 10,000 people detailed in the existing Growing Winchelsea growth framework.

The Strategy recognises that growth projections are dependent on the physical capacity of the town to accommodate growth, with infrastructure provision and the identification of new areas for housing, representing key elements for future investigation. The Strategy includes a direction to prepare a comprehensive Place Plan for Winchelsea (to include a Structure Plan), to be developed in collaboration with the community to determine the appropriate level and location of growth to be accommodated.

The Strategy includes a principle to:

Plan for Winchelsea to grow beyond 10,000 people as a principal location for growth in the Surf Coast Shire.

Winchelsea currently has few residential land opportunities and there is a need to increase lot supply. The Strategy identifies that in the short term, this demand should be met in Winchelsea’s southeast, where land is already identified for short term residential growth on the Winchelsea Framework Map. The Strategy includes a direction to facilitate a planning scheme amendment process to rezone this land.

The coastal towns between Anglesea and Lorne sit within sensitive and significant landscapes. The unique landscape settings coupled with extreme bushfire risk, restricts the opportunity for urban growth through the outward expansion of towns and significant infill development.

Housing diversity, affordability and availability are challenges in the coastal towns, and this could be exacerbated by declining new housing opportunities.

With an expected increase in the percentage of older residents and a dominance of large, detached houses, the existing housing stock does not respond to the anticipated smaller households.

The Strategy includes principles for the coastal towns to:

• Maintain the unique township and surrounding landscape character of the shire’s coastal towns from Anglesea to Lorne.
• Provide for limited future housing growth and employment within the existing settlement boundaries that is consistent with township character

The Strategy seeks to encourage proposals for new housing development to include a diversity of housing types, prioritising smaller dwellings. Furthermore, the strategy seeks to support and facilitate social and affordable housing opportunities including identifying suitable sites to respond to local housing needs including housing for key workers.

Deans Marsh and Moriac are smaller rural townships that offer access to the rural hinterland and a highly valued rural residential lifestyle.

Due to servicing and environmental constraints, these towns will not play a significant role in meeting future land supply needs for the municipality and instead, the ongoing sustainability of towns will be the focus.

The Strategy includes a principle:

• Maintain the unique character of the shire’s hinterland towns.