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Council Welcomes Report and Funding

Wellington Shire Council has welcomed the release by the Victorian government of the Coastal Spaces Recommendations Report and the announcement of major funding to help implement the recommendations.

By Wellington Shire Council - 20th April 2006 - Back to News

The report includes recommendations on the issue of inappropriate developments along the Ninety Mile Beach and refers to the work undertaken by Wellington Shire Council aimed at a long term solution to the problem caused by the establishment of 11,700 allotments along a 28 km stretch of the coast. The developments were established some 40 years ago without appropriate planning or provision for necessary services.

"We are particularly pleased that the government has recognised in this report that the Ninety Mile Beach issue is too big and complex for Council to resolve without support," said Cr Malcolm Hole, Mayor of Wellington Shire Council.

The report recommends that the government work with and support Wellington Shire Council in progressing the Council’s Wellington Coastal Subdivision Strategy.

"What this means is that it may be possible to move forward much more quickly towards providing a level of certainty for the future for landholders along the Ninety Mile Beach," said Cr Hole.

"Council is delighted that the government has backed up its support in a very material way by providing $100,000 to work with Council on this problem."

Council inherited the problem which began 40 years ago, when developers sold land on sensitive dunes and in flood prone areas for supposed residential developments.

"Ever since landholders have been restricted in what they could do on the land," said Cr Hole.

"We are determined to fix this problem once and for all."

The Mayor said that it will be an expensive problem to fix. Some land would need to bought back from landholders and services would need to be provided to areas confirmed for development.

"Without help this would be a major burden on Wellington ratepayers," said Cr Hole.

The state government funding is specifically in support of the current Wellington Coastal Subdivision Strategy and Council hopes it could be used to better identify the potential costs involved. This could include developing a business case as a basis for future implementation decisions.

"Once we have this detailed information we will be in a position to put a better timeframe on the final outcome and pursue additional funding from other sources."

"There are still more than 6,500 landholders affected by the hold on coastal development and we would all like a timely resolution to the issue," said Cr Hole.

Council recently wrote to all affected landholders detailing the coastal subdivision strategy and explaining how it affected their property.

Cr Hole said that Wellington Shire Council also plans to apply for a share of funding from a new $1miilion state fund to help manage change through strategic township planning.

"It is critical that local government work in partnership the State government to develop sustainable long term plans for our coastal areas," said Cr Hole.

"We want an outcome that is based on sound development and environmental factors but is also acceptable to the community."


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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