Balnarring Township Structure Plan

What is this project about?

The Balnarring Township Structure Plan (the Plan) was adopted by Council on 19  August 2019.  A key challenge for the Shire is the need to balance the demands for urban growth and the preservation of the natural landscape and rural activity on the Peninsula.  The Shire has already completed separate structure plans for the townships of Mornington, Rosebud, Hastings, Baxter and Somerville.

The role of the structure plan is to identify current and emerging issues and opportunities that relate to Balnarring township. It will set a structure that will provide for the form of development and traffic, transport and pedestrian connectivity and safety, among other things, that are appropriate to the vision for the township.

A structure plan determines what is working well in an area and how this can be enhanced, as well as how the area can grow and change in the future. It provides clear strategies for how this can be achieved.

 A its Planning Services Committee Meeting on Monday 19 August 2019, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council adopted the Balnarring Township Structure Plan 2019.

Download: Balnarring Township Structure Plan(PDF, 33MB)

Why is this project needed?

A key challenge for the Shire is the need to balance the demands for urban growth and the preservation of the natural landscape and rural activity on the Peninsula. An approach widely used to manage such a challenge is to prepare a structure plan for each township. 

A structure plan is a planning tool that sets out a vision for the future land use and development of a place. It guides land use and development towards the vision by establishing a planning and management framework with environmental, social and economic objectives. A key aspect of the structure planning process is the reliance on community feedback in developing the vision and objectives for a place. 

The Shire has already completed separate structure plans for Mornington, Rosebud and Hastings. It now seeks to prepare a plan for Balnarring township to ensure that the special and unique values of this township remain protected while accommodating appropriate development.

Balnarring township

Balnarring township is in the eastern region of the Peninsula near the Western Port Bay coastline. With an estimated resident population of around 1,630 in 2018, the township is forecast to grow to around 1,770 by 2036.

While a substantial portion of the township is in the green wedge, the urban area has a strong village feel with a commercial core that is surrounded by low-rise dwellings set within a bushy landscape.

Its activity centre is regarded a small township activity centre where around half of its total commercial floorspace is taken up by retail uses predominantly located in Balnarring Village Shopping Centre. The centre contains a small medical precinct west of Russell Street and services Balnarring and surrounding semi-rural townships.

While Balnarring has many appealing attributes that contribute to its residents’ expectations of liveability relative to other townships, it faces several issues that include:

  • pressures from tourism associated with development in its green wedge areas and the township’s coastal proximity;
  • a lack of an identified and preferred future character for the township in relation to its role, function, design and direction of growth;
  • limited access to public transport – only one bus route services the township; and
  • a relatively disjointed town centre with increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and poor circulation due to the confluence of five major roads.

Further information

Phone: 5950 1003

Email: strategic.admin@mornpen.vic.gov.au

 

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