Consultation opens Wednesday to confirm Cape Paterson town boundary

THE people of Cape Paterson, led by the Cape Paterson Ratepayers and Residents Association celebrated Christmas early this week with the announcement that their town would not be allowed to expand to the north by upwards of 900 new dwellings.

In a somewhat pre-emptive announcement about the outcome of the long-winded Bass Coast Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) process, Bass MP Jordan Crugnale assured a group of placard-waving campaigners at Cape Paterson on Tuesday that they’d already won the fight.

All that remains for them now is to back up their arguments one more time when a new draft map of Cape Paterson, with the town boundary restored to Seaward Drive is released.

“I urge people to get on to the Engage Vic website tomorrow (Wednesday, December 18) when the new map goes up and make comment,” Ms Crugnale said on Tuesday.

“This local community has been extraordinarily proactive, worked diligently and productively as a collective, ground swelled and garnered support over many, many years,” she said.

“They know how precious their township is, are well aware of the environmental significance of the landscape and coastline and importantly also the pressures on existing infrastructure with more growth.

“I am beyond ecstatic to see all their efforts culminating in this proposed boundary and the protections for future generations.

“A heartfelt thank you to the ‘Save the Cape’ and CPRRA community groups,” she said, pointing to the number of ‘Save the Cape from development’ signs on fences, front gates and other locations around the town.

The release of the draft map for Cape Paterson brings it into line with the draft boundaries already released for the other Bass Coast settlements included in the DAL review.

“Following this consultation process, all the town boundaries can be finalised to be endorsed by Responsible Public Entities. I expect those boundaries to align with community feedback and BCSC’s submission,” said Ms Crugnale.

“Protections for Victoria’s precious Bass Coast region are almost complete and now is our chance to finalise the town boundary of Cape Paterson, protect the natural landscape and stop over-development of the town.

“Following the first phase of consultation with the local community, the message loud and clear was that the Cape Paterson boundary should stop at Seaward Drive, given significance of the area and the impact of the environment from any further development.

“I have continued to advocate for a new map that confirms the town boundary at Seaward Drive. The town character of Cape Paterson is highly valued by locals and tourists alike for its coastline, beaches, village feel, natural environment and as an iconic tourist spot.”

Ms Crugnale said the new draft map of Cape Paterson would be open for consultation from Wednesday onwards.

“That will let community and residents to affirm their wishes on the boundary of Cape Paterson.”

Ms Crugnale urged those with an interest in the future of Cape Paterson to make their voice count.

“We need people to participate so we can confirm the town boundary and finalise the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) provisions for Bass Coast.

“Once in place, the DAL will be subject to the same strong protections that are in place for Melbourne’s permanent Urban Growth Boundary which requires parliamentary approval for amendments.”

Ms Crugnale said she expected the process to confirm Cape Paterson’s town boundary was restored to Seaward Drive and once included in the Bass Coast Shire Council’s Statement of Planning Policy, it would need a vote on the floor of both Houses of Parliament to be overturned.

The announcement ends a long and tortuous process for the local community since 2011 when the then-planning minister Matthew Guy expanded the town boundary of Cape Paterson against the wishes of the community and the council.

Speaking at Tuesday’s announcement, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy and the Social Economy at RMIT University, Dr David Hayward, a Cape Paterson resident, said it was the right decision.

“The problem isn’t over there,” said Dr Hayward, pointing to the open fields and undeveloped land to the north of Seaward Drive. "The issues are all on the other side", he said pointing towards the coast.

“The main factors are the proximity of the town to national marine and state parks and the significance of the marine life, flora and fauna in the area.

“If you had your time over again, you wouldn’t put a town here but having put one here you wouldn’t want to be compounding the mistake by allowing a significant expansion.”

He said the existing settlement was already putting pressure on the unique coastal environment, highlighted by the research brought forward by the planning panel process and underscored by the Peter Haack Consulting assessment that followed.

He said the Cape Eco Village had since raised the standard of what was possible in a coastal settlement and the challenge was there, once this present campaign was put to bed, to raise the standard and reduce the impact of the existing settlement on the environment.

Dr Hayward is also the Chair of the Victorian Government’s Social Housing Regulation Review.

Bass Coast Shire Councillor Mat Morgan attended the community gathering at Cape Paterson on Tuesday and welcomed the “overdue news from the State Government” but offered a backhander to the government on its social housing record.

“This is very welcome and overdue news from the State Government, even though we remain in a housing crisis,” said Cr Morgan.

“We need more housing supply near services, jobs and public transport. We need to build public housing, we need to make unlimited rent increases illegal and we need to end the unfair tax breaks for property investors through negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount.

“Let’s build up, not out and let’s build for people not profit.”

For more information on Bass Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape visit engage.vic.gov.au/distinctive-areas-and-landscapes-program

Background

The consultation seeks to confirm the boundary with a proposed map of the PSB (Protected Settlement Boundary) ending at Seaward Drive.

All the town boundaries are being finalised following recommendations from the Standing Advisory Committee, further landscape assessments undertaken and the BCSC endorsed resolution from February 2024. Additional consultation was required to affirm Cape Paterson boundary.

Under section 46AX of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the SPP will require endorsement from the Responsible Public Entities, this includes Bass Coast Shire Council. This process will happen once the draft is finalised.

Ms Crugnale said the Bass Coast SPP would provide a blueprint for the liveability of the Bass Coast declared area for the next 50 years and ensure housing growth and infrastructure investment occurs in the right locations.