A MOYNE Shire candidate believes a Port Fairy plan based on a 1.2-metre sea level rise prediction should extend to the whole shire's coastline.
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Rosebrook's Penny Iddon said a 2013 report to the council showed 444 properties would be at risk in the Port Fairy area including Cape Killarney by 2080.
"Moyne Shire is right to be looking to 2100 as a worst-case scenario for its strategic decision making," Ms Iddon said.
"I worry that short term decision making continues to dominate how we progress."
The council in 2013 adopted a maximum sea level rise of 1.2 metres by 2100, and its reports also predict a 40-centimetre rise by 2050 and 80 centimetres by 2080.
The council's draft Port Fairy Structure Plan C69 amendment uses a 1.2-metre sea level rise prediction alongside other flood data to plan future overlays for areas in the town.
The plan would restrict development in areas such as Belfast Lough's edges, South Beach, Port Fairy west, East Beach and the town's wharf, in many cases limiting building extensions to 20-square metres.
The council has received 78 submissions to the draft plan, most referring to the flood and inundation overlay.
Ms Iddon made one of those submissions asking for the zoning to expand to the entire Moyne coastline.
"This is an opportunity for Moyne Shire to be at the forefront of managing the impacts of the climate on our quality of life," she said.
Fears were raised this week that the overly could hurt house prices and insurance premiums. Ms Iddon believed the overlay would only have "short-term" impact on property value.
"The thing that maintains value of property is desire of others to live there," she said. "Even if there is a short-term drop in house price value it will continue to grow because (Port Fairy) is a desirable place to live."
The plan also includes proposals to rezone two areas north of the Princes Highway to pave the way for up to 589 new lots. Development in the current town boundary could also bring up to 158 new lots.
"The council is offering alternative sites where none of those issues are and development can take place there," Ms Iddon said.
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