Planning Scheme Review - Next Steps:

The Surf Coast Shire Council has prepared Amendment C147surf to the Surf Coast Planning Scheme to implement the recommendations from the Surf Coast Planning Scheme Review 2024.

Land Affected by the Amendment

The land affected by the amendment is all land in Surf Coast Shire.

What the Amendment Does

Amendment C147surf implements the recommendations of the Surf Coast Planning Scheme Review 2024 into the Surf Coast Planning Scheme.

The amendment does this by introducing new and revised local content into the Municipal Planning Strategy, Planning Policy Framework, and schedules to zones, overlays, particular provisions, general provisions, and operational provisions.

As part of this amendment, Surf Coast Shire Council seeks to introduce a new Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) policy into the planning scheme.

The new ESD policy would apply when both of the following apply:

  • The need for a planning permit is triggered.
  • The application is for two or more dwellings or for a commercial development.

While Environmentally Sustainable Design is an important consideration in all development, the new policy will not apply to planning applications relating to one dwelling on a lot. If you would like to know more about ESD, please see the Environmentally Sustainable Design section of council’s website.

Public Exhibition

You may inspect the amendment, any documents that support the amendment and the explanatory report about the amendment, free of charge, at:

  • In the document library on this web page;
  • At the Department of Transport and Planning website (for all clauses and schedules, map sheets, incorporated and background documents)
  • In person, at the Surf Coast Shire civic office 1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay, VIC 3228

Any person who may be affected by the amendment may make a submission to the planning authority about the amendment. Submissions must be made in writing giving the submitter’s name and contact address, clearly stating the grounds on which the amendment is supported or opposed and indicating what changes (if any) the submitter wishes to make.

Name and contact details of submitters are required for council to consider submissions and to notify such persons of the opportunity to attend council meetings and any public hearing held to consider submissions.

The closing date for submissions is Friday 18 April 2025. A submission must be:

  • Submitted online via the online submission portal on this web page (open from 9am Thursday 13 March 2025), or
  • Mailed to Coordinator Strategic Land Use Planning, PO Box 350, Torquay, VIC 3228

The planning authority must make a copy of every submission available at its office and/or on its website for any person to inspect free of charge for two months after the amendment comes into operation or lapses.