What is the DAL?

In 2019 the state government declared Bass Coast a Distinctive Area and Landscapes to guide future land use.

The first round of community consultation on the DAL was in 2018, when residents sent a loud message there was too much development pressure on Phillip Island and San Remo, and growth should be managed.

The second round of consultation in 2019 saw the release of a discussion paper, which included a vision for the next 50 years to 2070 for Bass Coast.

The paper stated the main challenges facing Phillip Island were congestion and local infrastructure pressures during peak periods, urban development demand, and climate change threats to the environment.

The paper proposed a number of controls to protect the area, including ensuring new housing designs that fit town character, beautiful views are safeguarded, green breaks are increased between townships, sprawl is avoided along the coast, while urban development close to high-value ecological areas should be restricted.

Now this third and final round of consultation, expected in coming weeks, will be around the most important document of all, a draft Statement of Planning Policy (SPP), which will eventually be enshrined in law.

The SPP aims to protect our best features and lock in town boundaries.