The places and homes we live in are fundamental to the wellbeing of our community. As East Gippsland grows and its demographics change, a strategic housing and settlement plan is crucial to support this growing region.
SGS Economics and Planning has partnered with the East Gippsland Shire Council to develop the East Gippsland Housing and Settlement Strategy. This Strategy aims to guide the development of settlements and the design of new, diverse housing through 2041, ensuring that homes and communities within the Shire enhance overall wellbeing.
With the population projected to increase by 15,400 people, reaching a total of 63,800 by 2041, the Council is planning for an additional 8,271 dwellings across the Shire. Managed growth is essential to maintain community health and prosperity while preserving valued natural landscapes and environments.
The Strategy offers a robust land-use planning policy framework to address the challenges and opportunities of East Gippsland's evolving settlements and housing landscape. It complements existing Council policies, facilitating an integrated approach to residential development decision-making.
Guided by six strategic principles developed through community feedback, the Strategy shapes the objectives and strategies for housing and settlement growth in East Gippsland:
- Preserve natural resources and protect human life: Development in environmental and landscape significance areas and those at risk of natural hazards will be carefully managed.
- Direct population and housing development: Future development will follow defined settlement roles and futures.
- Promote compact towns and settlements: Support will be given to housing development that creates compact towns and settlements, enabling efficient and sustainable land and infrastructure use.
- Improve housing affordability, diversity, and innovation: Initiatives delivering improved housing affordability, diversity, and innovation will be supported, providing greater choice for residents at all life stages.
- Maintain and enhance unique town character: The unique character of towns and settlements across East Gippsland will be preserved and enhanced.
- Support sustainable development: Well-designed and resource-efficient developments that contribute to more sustainable towns and settlements will be supported.
These principles ensure that future development aligns with community aspirations and respects the Shire's unique environmental and social context.
Key recommendations of the strategy include:
- A clear ‘settlement hierarchy’ that clarifies the existing and future role of settlements to support the efficient use of land and infrastructure, convenient access to jobs and services, protection of environmental values and the safety of our community.
- Acknowledgement of and recommendations targeted at overcoming barriers to housing delivery across the Shire.
- Guidance to ensure that new housing development doesn’t compromise environmental values or pose risk to human life from natural hazards.
- Identification of locations within major settlements that are best suited to medium and higher-density housing types.
The Housing Strategy is drafted with its ultimate implementation into the East Gippsland Planning Scheme in mind.
