Development of a plan guiding future growth and development in Moriac will proceed, informed by strong input from community members.
Surf Coast Shire Council is preparing a new Moriac Structure Plan, and extensive community engagement has helped shape its guiding principles.
At its June meeting Council noted a Moriac Structure Plan Community Engagement Summary Report 2022, and officers will commence the development of a Draft Moriac Structure Plan.
It will be presented at a future Council meeting for endorsement before being released for public exhibition.
Guiding principles to emerge from community engagement were:
- Preserve and enhance Moriac’s natural environments and surrounding rural hinterland.
- Protect rural areas from impacts associated with housing developments.
- Open space areas will continue to play in an important role in defining Moriac’s character and liveability.
- Future land use and development decisions will prioritise the needs of pedestrians and cyclists to create a safer built environment through improved accessibility and connectivity.
- Future growth must consider impacts on service infrastructure and where required contribute to infrastructure improvements.
- Land use planning decisions should consider the housing and transport needs of an age diverse population.
- Future residential growth will be incremental in scale and incorporate elements of Environmentally Sustainable Design.
Cr Heather Wellington said participation during community consultation on the plan demonstrated how much people value the township and what it offers.
“It is important that we develop a plan that supports and complements community aspirations, and the broad community response during engagement activities has provided a great platform,” Cr Wellington said.
“Some themes resonated strongly around preserving Moriac’s small-town character, open spaces, a connected community and natural environment, as well as things like making roads safer and providing more trails and paths.
“All input will be taken into consideration as the plan comes together, and community members will be invited to provide more comments during a further round of community engagement before the plan is considered for adoption later this year.”
Once finalised the new plan will replace the current Moriac Structure Plan adopted in 2010.
Find more details, including a copy of the Community Engagement Summary Report 2022, via the project page at surfcoast.vic.gov.au/MoriacSP.
