A Structure Plan is a planning tool whichidentifies potential changes to land use, development and design defining a long-term vision for an area with key actions and recommendations for its implementation.

Following the end of the community consultation period, Council will review and summarise the submissions received from the community. In doing this, it may involve addressing changes suggested, or undertaking further investigation required in response to comments.

The Final Structure Plan will be prepared using the Draft Structure Plan as a basis with changes made to address the community’s comments.

After the review of submissions from the community, Council officers will prepare the Final San Remo Structure Plan for presentation to Councillors.

If Councillors choose to adopt the San Remo Structure Plan with no changes, then Council officers will begin preparing a Planning Scheme Amendment for the Structure Plan. The Planning Scheme Amendment will implement the Structure Plan into the Bass Coast Planning Scheme by changing:

• Policy relating to San Remo

• Zoning

• Overlays

The San Remo Structure Plan is a strategic direction from the Bass Coast Council Plan 2021-2025 to ensure that growth is properly managed across the Shire.

San Remo is identified as a ‘District Town’ in the Bass Coast Planning Scheme. San Remo is a fast-growing town which provides services and infrastructure for the town and the surrounding areas. As well, San Remo is the last major greenfield development growth area in the Shire; therefore, strategic structure planning is important to ensure elements have been considered holistically.

The Structure Plan seeks to manage change in San Remo for the next 20 years. The Plan will identify locations for, and the provision of housing, commercial uses, community services and facilities, transport infrastructure, public open space and utilities. The Structure Plan will protect the natural environment of San Remo.

Implementation of the San Remo Structure Plan will involve Planning Scheme Amendments to change sections of the Bass Coast Planning Scheme as well as inform utilities and infrastructure locations, provision and upgrades. The San Remo Structure Plan will act as a reference for Council in determining planning permit applications and rezoning requests in San Remo.

Council’s Bass Coast Aquatics Strategy is a two-pool strategy. The Strategy focuses on the existing Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Wonthaggi, and the proposed, future Phillip Island Aquatic and Leisure Centre, to be located in Cowes. Council unfortunately does not have viable funding for the implementation of the Bass Coast Aquatics Strategy at the moment. The Bass Coast Aquatics Strategy and project information can be found online: https://engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/aquatics

Council’s Bass Coast Skate Strategy was adopted in 2018 and reviewed in 2023. The review identified locations for a variety of different level skate parks across the Shire, including a new local level skate park at Grayden’s Reserve in Newhaven. The Bass Coast Skate Strategy and more information on skate parks can be found online: https://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/explore/leisure-and-recreation/skate

The Structure Plan seeks to address the current issues that San Remo experiences in terms of transport, congestion and car parking.

San Remo’s traffic and car parking situation is complex due to the town’s ability to accommodate its residential population but also visitors.

The Structure Plan sets out what the transport and car parking issues are for San Remo and identifies how they can be improved in the short-term and further into the future. Given there is various responsible parties in regard to transport infrastructure in San Remo and surrounds, working with these groups to achieve the outcomes of the Structure Plan’s recommendations is crucial.

• Phillip Island Road is managed by the State Government Department of Transport and Planning. DTP are responsible for the management and maintenance of the Road and the Bridge.
• The Structure Plan is proposed to be used as an advocacy document to seek funding and priority of improvement of Phillip Island Road between San Remo to Newhaven.
• Duplication of Phillip Island Road or Bridge is not proposed as part of the San Remo Structure Plan. However, there has been previous plans from DTP to upgrade the road corridor and intersections between San Remo and Newhaven. Please contact DTP on (03) 9655 6666 or visit https://transport.vic.gov.au/

The area of land being investigated and considered the study area captures the existing San Remo township and includes land to the northern and southern coastline to just past Punch Bowl Road to the east. Refer to Page 10 of the Draft San Remo Structure Plan report.

The Structure Plan will deliver planning outcomes for three distinct areas:

• the main commercial and activity centre area along Marine Parade

• the existing, and well-established residential and community areas of San Remo

• the growth areas to the east of the existing township of San Remo

It should be noted that the entire study area does not depict the area in which will be developed or allowed to be developed in the future. The study area is purely the land in which needs to be considered from a planning perspective to understand aspects such as stormwater drainage, and environmental impacts, for example.

The growth area or growth front for San Remo within the Structure Plan refers to the land between Potters Hill Road, at the current settlement boundary, and Punch Bowl Road to the east of the existing, established township.

A town centre or activity centre is a section of an urban area that functions as a key hub for commercial, retail, employment, housing, and social activities.

Generally, the activity centre is a place where people live, work, shop and meet which is well-connected to transport networks.

In San Remo, the section of Marine Parade between Woolamai Grove and Back Beach Road serves as the town’s primary activity centre, offering a diverse range of urban services, facilities and infrastructure for residents and visitors.

Clearly defining the San Remo town centre is essential to the San Remo Structure Plan in guiding improvement of the town centre whilst supporting future growth and development.

An Urban Design Framework (UDF) is a strategic planning tool to set out urban design elements, ideas or guidelines often focusing on the town centre.

While a UDF details key principles and objectives, there is a level of flexibility to allow for scope for innovative design solutions.

To implement the details in a UDF, specific elements can be translated into planning policies and design guidelines for future development outcomes.

An Access and Movement Study is a form of technical report used for transport and town planning to understand how people, vehicles and freight move to, through and from an area.

An Access and Movement Study examines transport networks including roads, footpaths, cycling routes and public transport access points. From understanding the current transport conditions and relevant issues, an Access and Movement Study develops strategies to improve future conditions.

Major points within an Access and Movement Study can include car parking, traffic congestion and walkability of areas.

2023

In 2023, Council undertook a round of Preliminary Community Consultation for the San Remo Structure Plan to understand the wants, needs and ideas of the community. There was also an opportunity for community members to register their interest in being involved in a Community Reference Group (CRG) for the San Remo Structure Plan.

The consultation period was carried out for 6 weeks from 26 October 2023 to 8 December 2023 and included various engagement methods.

Throughout the consultation period, Council captured:

• 137 social mapping markers submitted on various themes from 46 separate contributors.

• 21 nominations for the Community Reference Group for the San Remo Structure Plan project.

For more details, view the San Remo Structure Plan Preliminary Community Consultation Summary Report.

2024

Throughout 2024, extensive engagement was undertaken with identified key stakeholders in San Remo. There were approximately 31 different stakeholders engaged with by different methods and at varied capacities. Some stakeholders were engaged on multiple occasions through 2024.

As well as stakeholder engagement, the Community Reference Group was established in January 2024 involving a group of 12 members. Over 2024, the CRG met 4 separate times to workshop ideas and concepts for the San Remo Structure Plan. Council provided the CRG with regularly communications about the Structure Plan project as work progressed.

As the Structure Plan project progresses, the Strategic Planning team have been engaging with a number of stakeholders. These stakeholders include:

• Westernport Water
• Department of Transport and Planning (DTP)
• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)
• San Remo District Tourism and Business Association (Traders' Association)
• Internal Council officers and teams
• San Remo Recreation Centre Committee of Management
• Myli
• Bass Coast Health
• CFA
• Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
• Silverwater Resort
• Destination Phillip Island
• ParksVictoria
• San Remo Primary School
• Bass Coast College
• Department of Education
• Bass Coast Youth Advisory Council
• Boonwurrung Land & Sea Council
• Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA)
• Local business owners
• Victoria Police
• SES
• Westernport Tennis Club
• San Remo Bowls Club
• AusNet
• EPA
• West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority
• APA Group
• Department of Health
• San Remo Fishermen's Co-Op
• Melbourne Water

Throughout the Preliminary Community Consultation in late 2023, there was 21 nominations for the San Remo Structure Plan Community Reference Group (CRG)

In January 2024, the San Remo Structure Plan CRG was established. The CRG is made up of 12 individuals whom live, work or have a business in San Remo.

The role of the CRG is to provide input, constructive criticism and feedback on the preparation of the San Remo Structure Plan. For the San Remo, and wider Bass Coast community, the CRG members will represent the collective vision for the future of San Remo and act as a champions for the success of the Structure Plan.