An amendment that seeks to facilitate the development of new homes in Drysdale has been adopted by the Council, after an Independent Panel supported the amendment with minor changes to overlay controls.
Under Amendment C363ggee, 28 Rural Living zoned properties on either side of Central Road will be rezoned to allow for about 550 homes to be built. The amendment includes overlay controls to manage orderly planning, subdivision design and developer contributions.
The Independent Panel’s report in October found there’s strategic justification for the amendment and that it’s consistent with the Drysdale Clifton Springs Structure Plan and the City’s Settlement Strategy. The Settlement Strategy, which was adopted by the Council in August 2020, directs that housing development on the Bellarine Peninsula should be focused within existing town boundaries at designated locations.
The panel considered 76 submissions received by the City and supported the proposed development framework plan in response to concerns about traffic, vegetation, open space and stormwater drainage impacts.
The Central Road Drysdale Development Contributions Plan was supported by the panel, which identifies more than $7.3 million in new local infrastructure:
- Five road projects including pedestrian signals on Jetty Road and an upgrade of the Central Road/ Wyndham Street intersection;
- Two drainage reserves and associated landscaping and revegetation; and
- Open space improvements to the two new parks and linear reserve including playgrounds and shared trails.
The Drysdale Regional Community and Learning Hub will also receive more than $557,000 from the development contributions plan.
In January this year, Council supported Marsh Court residents who opposed the proposed Marsh Court Road connection to the new residential estate. This connection will be replaced with a linear reserve for pedestrian, bicycle and stormwater drainage use.
The adoptedamendment will be submitted to the Minister for Planning for final approval.
Councillor Kylie Grzybek – Chair, Statutory and Strategic Planning portfolio
Council acknowledges the large amount of feedback from the community over many years.
Council’s satisfied with the Independent Panel’s recommendations and has a number of plans and policies in place to ensure community concerns are addressed.
It’s the right time for this amendment, as the development will assist in easing pressure on housing supply on the Bellarine Peninsula and contribute to affordable housing.
