An expansion of Torquay Library and completion of Winchelsea's Barwon River Loop Walk are among dozens of projects earmarked for delivery as part of a 10-year Council plan for new and renewed community facilities and open spaces across the shire.
The new Our Places and Spaces – Surf Coast Social Infrastructure Plan 2026-2036 will guide Council in making fair and evidence-based decisions about how and where it invests in community places and spaces across nine service categories:
- arts and culture facilities
- aquatics
- leisure and recreation
- community meeting and program spaces
- early years
- ·outdoor sport and recreation
- playgrounds and public open space
- pathways and connections
- public amenities, and
- youth spaces.
The plan includes a town-by-town list of projects, giving the community insight into what's planned and when in their local area for the next decade.
Also featured on the list are new sports lighting at Lorne's Stribling Reserve netball courts, and detailed design for an upgraded Deans Marsh Community Hub (with construction to follow pending funding).
The plan was based on a framework for assessing and prioritising projects, centred around factors relating to community need and project deliverability.
Councillor Liz Pattison highlighted the importance of social infrastructure to community health and wellbeing.
"Community facilities and open spaces bring people together and provide access to services and activities that make the Surf Coast a better place to live," Cr Pattison said.
"For many people, these places are like a second home, and we want them to be accessible, fit for purpose and meeting the needs of the community."
At the moment Council is responsible for a network of social infrastructure assets valued at $243 million, and spends $7 million each year on maintenance of those assets.
"The plan sets out a strong short-term focus on delivering on our existing priorities and commitments, and renewing our ageing assets," Cr Pattison said.
"Over the life of the plan we are looking to balance renewal of existing assets with building new facilities for our growing population, while staying within our financial means.
"The current economic environment limits our capacity to fully fund new facilities, so our funding strategy will be reliant on securing grants from other levels of government, as well as fundraising by clubs and groups, to assist with project costs.
"It often takes several years to plan, secure funding and deliver facilities – it takes patience from all involved and a willingness to try and try again, so it's important to have a long-term view."
The plan has been shaped by engagement with the Surf Coast community, including an online survey in August and September this year that generated 226 responses and almost 2000 page views.
Council staff also held multiple in-person conversations with community groups, key organisations, government departments and service providers.
The basis for the new plan was an 'Our Places and Spaces: State of Play' document, finalised in August 2024, which identified all social infrastructure across the shire and its condition, and identified gaps or areas of need.
The Surf Coast Social Infrastructure Plan 2026-2036 can be read in full – including the town-by-town list of planned projects on the project webpage.
It will be reviewed annually on a rolling basis to measure progress and capture new priorities as they're identified.
The plan aligns closely with the Council Plan 2025-29 strategic directions of 'Assets and Infrastructure' and 'Community Wellbeing.'
