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.
Guest Speaker Zaki Harba- presented an update on the Plans for the Wonthaggi Lifesaving Club infrastructure. John Coulter was confirmed as a Life Member for work leading the community in preserving the character of our village.
Parents' Group
End of Year Wrap; Rare Sea Birds, AGM and Fees
Go to the News Page for an archive of past editions of Cape Conversations.
Our next Working Bee will be
Clean Up Australia brings us an early working bee for this month. Note that it will be held on a Sunday (as opposed to our usual Saturday) to coincide with the National event! We'll be meeting and spreading out through the public spaces of Cape Paterson (beaches, coastal reserve, parks and nature strips) to collect discarded rubbish and detritus left or blown into our beautiful coastal environment. If past years are anything to go by, there will be less and less to collect. At the finish (12:30pm), all rubbish in bags should be taken back to the starting point and CPRRA will provide a lunch with refreshments for all participants.
Meet at the Bar B Que shelter at Alan Birt Reserve (Hut View Road) at 10a.m.
Please wear clothing suitable for the weather (raincoats if rainy, sun smart hats and clothes) and footwear suitable for your designated areas (eg, reef shoes for beach and rock areas, closed footwear for areas in the coastal reserve). Bring your own gloves if you choose, but gloves will otherwise be provided.
Hot, dry weather.
High temperatures and low rainfall.
Female Common Brown butterflies are flying.
Bowat (tussock-grass) is long and dry.
The Southern Cross is high in the south at sunrise.
"I don't know why, we used to play around the tussock grass. Playing hidey. So they must have been big enough to hide around. And it was nothing to see a snake curled up inside the tussock grass."
Dot Peters, 1999.
