Without consultation and ignoring reports they commissioned themselves, the State Government extended Cape Paterson’s Northern Boundary.
This means the area north of Seaward Drive is open to MASSIVE overdevelopment. Currently there is a proposal for the addition of over 900 new houses, more than doubling the current size of Cape Paterson. It’s just too much.
FIND OUT THE LATEST, AND HOW YOU CAN HELPUPDATE: October 2025
NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT The Cape Paterson Northern boundary is finalised. At last! The Statement of Planning Policy for the Bass Coast Distinctive Areas and Landscape was published in the Victorian Government Gazette on Tuesday 14th October. That means it is now legally enforceable for all future planning applications. You can visit the Engage Victoria website for a brief update, or you can download the Special Government Gazette S563 14th October https://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/gazette_bin/recent_gazettes.cfm?bct=home|recentgazettesThe Cape Paterson northern boundary is now at Seaward Drive, and is a Protected Settlement Boundary. Under the DAL legislation this means that it cannot be changed at the whim of a future Planning Minister (as it was in 2011). Any change will need the approval of both houses of State Parliament. This has been a long journey for the CPRRA, going back to 2009. Committee members and residents have attended many Council meetings, lobbied State Members, Planning Ministers and written hundreds of submissions along with making presentations at Planning Panels and Committee hearings. The “Save Cape Paterson” placards on so many fences also helped, especially when the Planning Minister came to visit last year. We’ll provide any updates (and perhaps have a little celebration) at the AGM in January.Meanwhile, enjoy the good news.
When the Surf Coast (Torquay region) DAL SPP was declared (where a previous Planning Minister had also changed a boundary against panel advice), the developers sought to have the decision set aside in the Supreme Court. They lost and had costs awarded against them.Stay tuned for further updates.
More detail about the return of the Settlement Boundary to Seaward Drive, the AGM January 17 2026, Working Bees and The Cape Garden
Go to the News Page for an archive of past editions of Cape Conversations.
Our next Working Bee will be
For this final working bee of the year, we'll be maintaining planting carried out two years ago between the Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club and the First Surf Beach stairs. If there are enough volunteers, a second group will go to the Boat Ramp planting to do maintenance there. It is hoped that we'll be able to mulch for better weed control at the First Surf Beach site.
Meet at the First Surf Beach Car Park at 9 a.m.
Please wear clothing appropriate to the conditions (sun hat if sunny, raincoat if wet and windy, closed footwear). We can provide gloves, secateurs, trowels etc. but please feel free to bring your own favourite tools. In appreciation of our volunteers' effort during the year, we will provide a special lunch - details to be confirmed.
The weather is warm, and it is often raining.
Kangaroo Grass is flowering.
Buliyong (bats) are catching insects in flight.
Balayang, the Creation Being, is also referred to as the bat.
Male Common Brown butterflies are flying.
Coranderrk (Victorian Christmas Bush) is coming into flower.
The Orion constellation is setting in the western sky around sunrise.
"They must have done something with the seeds for damper to pulp down into a floury thing for damper. That's when the butterflies come to the flowers. They were food." Brian Paterson, 1999
