The Point Grey Precinct (the Precinct) is an area of public land on the Lorne foreshore, located at the eastern-most point of Lorne, to the south of the town centre. The Precinct is connected to the centre of Lorne by a walking track along the foreshore and is the starting point for the annual Lorne ‘Pier to Pub’ swimming event. It is also the site of the Port of Lorne and comprises a mix of public assets, including, among other things:

• Lorne Pier
• Former Fishing Co-op Building
• Lorne Angling and Aquatic Club (LAAC) building
• New beach access, boat ramp
• Historic boat ramp (pedestrian only ‘Pier to Pub’ ramp)
• Public open space reserve, including barbeque, picnic tables, passive recreation area.
• Public toilets
• Public lighting
• Car parking
• Mature trees and landscaping

In addition to its Indigenous cultural heritage significance, the Precinct is an integral part of the Lorne community, valued for its economic, environmental, social, and cultural importance. It is widely used by locals, holidaymakers, and day visitors alike.

Since the previous redevelopment application, the legislative and policy context has shifted significantly. The focus is now firmly on protecting coastal habitats and the natural environment, ensuring resilience for maritime recreation and infrastructure, and safeguarding ports from climate change impacts, among other things. Policy has moved away from promoting coastal Crown land for general tourism revenue, toward supporting only coastal-dependent recreational and eco-tourism activities that enhance the coast’s natural and cultural values.

In line with the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020, the Authority is committed to minimising the building footprint at the site, while ensuring the site can still support appropriate coastally dependent uses. These include passive and active maritime recreation, in line with the purpose of the Public Parks and Recreation Zone, as well as the protection of the coastline, consistent with the land’s reservation under the Crown Land Reserves Act 1978.

The Great Ocean Road and Environs Protection Act 2020

Pursuant to the Great Ocean Road and Environs Protection Act 2020, the Authority must apply the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Protection Principles when carrying out any function, duty, or power related to land under its management, including the development of the Point Grey UDF and the precinct’s future redevelopment.

These Principles fall under four categories:

• General and Economic
• Aboriginal Inclusion
• Environmental
• Social

Decisions must reflect a careful balance and integration of environmental, cultural, social, and economic values.

The Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978

The Point Grey precinct is reserved under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 for the “protection of the coastline” for the benefit of all Victorians.

P1182/2020 Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Determination

The previous iteration of the Point Grey redevelopment, which required a planning permit, received a Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit from Surf Coast Shire. This decision was appealed by members of the Lorne community, with the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club joining the appeal. The matter was heard at Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), which ultimately overturned the decision in 2022.

A copy of the VCAT determination order can be found, here.

Pertinent grounds for refusal made in the determination order included:

• 188. This proposal is essentially for a Restaurant in this location to attract tourism revenue, as opposed to providing support to the marine and coastal location and anticipated activities within it.
• 189. The Restaurant is not dependent on the coastal location and Point Grey does not require a Restaurant, nor is this use naturally aligned with the purposes of the Public Park and Recreation Zone (PPRZ), or the purposes for which the land is reserved.
• 190. The design of the Restaurant, while not before the Tribunal in terms of permission, affects the way in which it will be used. It has been designed to form the dominant use of the site as a destination venue, to cater for 160 patrons from 7am to 11pm at night. It is a commercial use that could be located anywhere. Any relationship of this use with the PPRZ purposes are incidental, in the sense that it may provide food and drink for people otherwise utilising the public areas, or that people attending the Restaurant can take advantage of the ocean views available.
• 191. The Marine & Coastal Policy (MCP) discusses uses and development that are functionally dependent on being on or near the water and discourages those that are not. Not only is this use not dependent on being within Point Grey, the use, by virtue of its location, scale and design, does not support the other uses of the land that are functionally dependent on being on or near the water and are consistent with the purposes of the PPRZ.
• 197. Reflecting on the current focus of the Scheme, an application made today would be required to consider matters such as the connection of the use to the marine and coastal environment, the carrying capacity of the site and the impacts of the proposed use on the environment. I find that, in this context, the commercial Restaurant use, at the scale proposed, is not supported by the Scheme.
• 198. I rely also on the strategies of clause 12.02-2S, to meet the objective of ensuring the use and development of marine and coastal Crown land is ecologically sustainable, minimises impacts on cultural and environmental values, and improves public benefit for current and future generations.
• 199. Those strategies seek to ensure that use and development on a site such as this maintains safe, equitable public access, improves public benefit, demonstrates need and has a coastal dependency and minimises loss of public open space.
• 200. With respect to equitable access to marine and coastal Crown land, the Restaurant will be exclusively used by paying customers. This is limiting access to land located in a public park and recreation area on land identified within the Scheme as public open space and reserved for public purposes. The proposed use does not improve public benefit for the site and has not arisen from a demonstrated need that is relevant to the marine and coastal Crown land. It does not have a coastal dependency and is identified in the MCP as a use not anticipated to be provided on or near the water.
• 201. The scale of the proposed restaurant use requires a building of commensurate size that results in loss of what would otherwise be public open space, as well as affecting the amount of car parking required to be provided on public open space land and vegetation removal that is a consequence of providing such car parking. While I acknowledge that many elements of the overall proposal include improvements such as the new boardwalks, seating options and public facilities within the precinct, this does not depend on the Restaurant use and the use in itself does not provide a public benefit as anticipated by the Scheme.
• 202. For the reasons set out above, I consider that the proposal before the Tribunal to use the land for a Restaurant, even if it was associated with the public land use, is not supported by the Scheme. I find that a permit should not be granted for the Restaurant use.

Find out more about the planning pathway for Point Grey

Planning Pathway 52:30

We are committed to keeping you informed and involved throughout Point Grey’s Redevelopment. Your feedback has already shaped the final Urban Design Framework, and we will continue sharing updates and answering questions as the project moves through detailed design. Transparency and ongoing engagement are important to ensure the redevelopment reflects both community values and legislative requirements.

How Point Grey will be assessed

Point Grey (alongside the Apollo Bay Harbour and Kennett River projects) will go through a specific planning approval process called Clause 52.30 State Projects.

What this means

• The Department of Transport and Planning will assess the project on behalf of the Minister for Planning

• All projects must still meet strict planning laws, environmental standards and community consultation requirements

• This pathway allows for timely decisions on significant regional projects while maintaining thorough assessment

Staying transparent

We believe transparency is essential. This planning pathway ensures Point Grey meets both community values and legal requirements while moving the project forward efficiently.

Want to know more?

For further information about how Clause 52.30 works for Point Grey and other Geelong City Deal projects, download the Clause 52.30 State Projects Planning Pathway Info Sheet

The Victoria’s Resilient Coast (VRC) Framework has guided the planning process for this site, supporting proactive and long-term coastal hazard risk management.

With climate change expected to increase exposure to coastal hazards—including intensified wave action, storm activity, and sea level rise—this framework provides a structured approach for assessing vulnerability and identifying appropriate adaptation responses.

The Point Grey Precinct is increasingly vulnerable to coastal erosion and inundation, with erosion hazards expected to intensify due to climate change. The current erosion hazard zone extends approximately 10 metres inland from the shoreline, with projections indicating it may reach 20 metres by 2100. While inundation risk is currently low, sea level rise is expected to affect low-lying areas from around 2070, potentially threatening key environmental, cultural, and built assets.

Adaptation planning at the site follows the Marine and Coastal Policy’s adaptation hierarchy. West of the boat ramp, minimal intervention is proposed, supported by a combination of nature-based solutions and managed retreat. Between the boat ramp and the pier, the landscape will be designed to accommodate gradual erosion. In the area surrounding and north of the pier, the existing revetment will be progressively upgraded as required. To reduce future impacts from erosion and sea level rise, all new infrastructure should be set back as far as feasible.

The VRC Framework, combined with community values and objectives, has been central to evaluating adaptation options and shaping feasible pathways.

Adaptation measures have been carefully assessed to minimise unintended impacts on surrounding environments. This process has directly informed the strategic siting of infrastructure within the precinct, enabling us to maintain the area’s core values and functions into the future.

By applying this approach, we aim to support long-term resilience and sustainable use of the site—now and beyond 2100.

If you are interested in finding out more go to the Victoria’s Resilient Coast – Adapting for 2100+ webpage.

The Urban Design Framework (UDF) is a planning document that sets out the vision for the Point Grey precinct. It provides design guidelines and requirements for built form, open space, access, heritage, and more.

How your feedback shaped the final UDF:

We listened to what the community told us, and the final UDF includes these important changes:

• Boat wash facility – Added based on your requests
• Public fish cleaning station – Included to support local fishing activities
• Flexible open space near the pier - Redesigned to accommodate community events, markets or additional parking
• Better located public facilities – Moved to be part of the new food and beverage area for convenience
• Celebrating our shared stories: Enhanced guidance on honouring the site’s rich history, including First Nations cultural connections, maritime heritage, and the timber industry stories.

What the UDF delivers for Point Grey

The Urban Design Framework (UDF) sets out the vision to revitalise Point Grey with:

• Better public access and safer pathways
• Enhanced open space for everyone to enjoy
• New facilities including a casual food venue, new Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club clubhouse and new public facilities
• Recognition and celebration of the area’s rich cultural, maritime and timber industry heritage

How the UDF works

Rather than dictating exact designs, the UDF sets out the quality, vision and aspirations of the redevelopment project. It creates a shared understanding between GORCAPA, relevant authorities, the community, Easten Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC), future tenants and any other relevant stakeholders about the site’s future development.

Numerous policy documents apply to the site and have been considered in preparing this UDF.

Better access and connections

The UDF improves parking (including dedicated boat trailer spaces), creates better traffic flow, and establishes safer pedestrian pathways throughout the site. These improvements will enhance safety and strengthen the connection back to Lorne township.

Parking and traffic flow decisions are based on independent modelling available here.

Download the Final UDF here

Download the FAQ here.