Mornington Peninsula Shire is investigating whether further planning controls are needed to better protect the environmental values of the Balcombe Estuary Reserves.
The Balcombe Estuary is one of the Peninsula's major waterways and a significant natural asset.
These reserves are rich in biodiversity and offer picnic tables, playgrounds, fishing platforms and walking tracks and boardwalk alongside Balcombe Creek, extending from the coast through to the Nepean Highway and on to The Briars.
Also located within the reserves are recreation and community facilities, such as: tennis courts, cricket/football ovals, a pistol club, and bowls club, as well as Mount Martha Preschool and Maternal and Child Health Centre.
With increasing population, the environment and the recreational facilities of the reserves will come under increasing pressure.
The Shire, together with local community groups and key stakeholders, works hard to protect and enhance the biodiversity values of the reserves.
As part of this commitment, we have developed a draft Balcombe Estuary Reserve Ecological and Planning Study (the draft Study).
The project aims to find a balance between preserving the ecological values of the reserves, while supporting appropriate sport and recreation uses of the area.
To achieve this, we are recommending:
- a new planning control be applied to the reserves to limit the impact of future development and vegetation removal on the environmental significance of the area.
- small pockets of land be rezoned where the current zoning does not match the current or future land use.
Planning controls protecting the environment may restrict certain community facilities and expansion of sport and recreation facilities.
This means the Shire may need to either:
- buy land in or nearby Mount Martha if these facilities needed to expand.
- dedicate areas of the reserves to recreational needs over environmental protection.
We are now seeking your feedback on the project.
HOW TO PROVIDE YOUR FEEDBACK
Community consultation opens on Monday 17 May 2021 and closes Monday 28 June 2021.
Online
Visit our website: mornpen.vic.gov.au/balcombeestuary
Fill out the survey, drop a pin and/or make a submission.
Hard copy forms are also available on request at Shire Customer Service Centres.
Attend an information session
Online information session
11am – 1pm, Monday 31 May
Via Microsoft Teams
In person drop in session
5:30pm – 8pm, Wednesday 9 June
Mornington Park Pavilion (9 Flinders Drive, Mornington)
