Surf Coast Shire is exploring uncharted waters with a recent planning application for a complex of four shops in Aireys Inlet requiring a Coastal Hazard Assessment.

Council asked the applicant to complete a Coastal Hazard Assessment for the proposal, which backs on to Painkalac Creek, as a result of guidelines in the Victorian Coastal Strategy.

This strategy and a number of recent VCAT decisions regarding future coastal hazards outside Surf Coast Shire have led Council to seek a Coastal Hazard Assessment on the proposal; a request the proponent has agreed to.
The application has been advertised with available information that relates to considerations like amenity and traffic management to enable community input on these issues.

Mayor, Cr Libby Coker, said Council would not be making a decision on the proposal until public submissions have been reviewed and a range of technical information that Council has requested, including the Coastal Hazard Report, was received. As a result it is likely that a final determination of the application may be delayed.

“Council has received more than 100 public submissions to the proposal, which indicates a really strong level of community interest.

“A development such as a supermarket is an as-of-right use in land zoned Business 1 such as the bottom shops at Aireys.  Council is therefore required to consider the application on the basis of it being four shops.

“Factors like car parking, built form and how it relates to Aireys Inlet’s character and the surrounding environment will all be considered in the determination of the planning application – just as they are considered as part of the normal planning process.

“Because of the Victorian Coastal Strategy and its guidelines on climate change, we have asked the proponent to complete a Coastal Hazard Assessment because of the site’s low elevation and proximity to the creek. 

“This is in a sense uncharted waters as far as planning goes on the Surf Coast and an issue that must be addressed carefully as part of the decision making process.

“I want to reassure everyone with an interest in this application that Council will follow its normal planning processes in carefully assessing the proposal against relevant planning considerations and anyone who has made a written submission will be kept informed as to when Council will make a decision.”

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