At Surf Coast Shire Council's December meeting Council adopted the Moriac Structure Plan 2023 to guide a range of decision making over the next 10 years.
The plan provides an overarching vision, guiding principles, strategies, and actions for managing the use and development of land in the town of Moriac.
Councillor Heather Wellington said ensuring the future growth of the town is in line with landscape constraints and the town's rural character is essential.
"The plan will provide a strategic framework that will guide land use and development decisions. It is a way to ensure Moriac maintains its rural character," Cr Wellington said.
"We acknowledge the Moriac community has expressed a range of opinions about future growth.
"The role of Moriac as a location for limited rural residential development should be protected by planning policy. This was the majority view from our findings."
The draft Moriac Structure Plan was presented to Council on 23 May 2023, seeking Council's endorsement of the plan for community engagement purposes.
The draft plan was placed on public exhibition for a period of six weeks. The Plan received 35 submissions, with five of those submissions lodged by public authorities.
Following this process, the draft Moriac Structure Plan was reviewed to incorporate some of the changes identified through submissions to the Strategic Framework Plan, key strategic directions, and general commentary.
The Moriac Structure Plan 2023 will now be incorporated into the Surf Coast Planning Scheme through a planning scheme amendment process where submitters will get the opportunity to also provide submissions as part of this process.
Cr Wellington said the plan will become the primary local policy reference for land use planning decision making in Moriac.
"It has a strong focus on the protection and enhancement of landscapes. Not only that, central to a landscape first approach is the respectful consideration of Traditional Owner values," Cr Wellington said.
"The plan acknowledges the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners as the first custodians of the Moriac region. It also encourages the consideration of cultural knowledge in future decision making."
Bushfire risk at a landscape level, the impacts of climate change and opportunities related to integrated water cycle management are also covered.
"This has been an in-depth process that commenced late 2021. I'm happy for current and future residents of Moriac that their township will be guided and protected by the plan," Cr Wellington said.
