News

2025 was another busy year for us with a number of issues that kept our attention. We have been in regular contact with Cr. Andrea Allen and the Shire with ongoing concerns including:

• environmental weeds within roadside reserves
• continual instances of non-compliance with building permits
• efficient delivery of services provided by the Shire
• quality checks on services delivered by contractors to the Shire
• the number of finalised Masterplans that remain unfunded.

We are pleased that after years of advocating, the Amendment C286morn - Ocean Beach Road Sorrento built form review has finally been approved by the Minister for Planning, providing some protection (Design and Development Overlay 28) from inappropriate development for the Sorrento commercial precinct. DDO specifies height restrictions and setbacks for all buildings within the Sorrento commercial precinct which includes the buildings on Rusty's corner opposite the Koonya.

There are a number of matters on our radar for 2026:

• continuing implementation of masterplans including: Rye Township Plan, MacFarlan Reserve, Stringer Reserve, Sorrento Foreshore, Portsea Foreshore.
• MPS 2026/27 Budget - allocation for Nepean Ward projects.
• Amendment C312morn - highly susceptible landslide areas with Environmental Overlay 7 identifying 25,000 residential properties within MPS as being susceptible to landslides.
• The Municipal Emergency Management Plan and the Shire's preparedness to manage an emergency such as a bushfire.
•  Portsea bay beach and possible options for restoration.

If there are other matters that you have concerns about please let us know.

We strongly encourage you to become involved with the group in your area.

Engaging the Nepean Ward in supporting a sustainable community