Sorrento Local Port Area Plan Project

Project status

September 2024:

View the final Sorrento Local Port Area Plan here
View the Community Engagement Summary Report here

The project

The project was undertaken on Bunurong Sea Country

Developed as part of the Victorian Government’s Sustainable Local Ports Framework, the final Sorrento Local Port Area Plan seeks to celebrate Sorrento as a working port facility with many uses, while responding to current and future demands to ensure safe and navigable water for harbour users.

The plan outlines a strategic framework for managing the port area and guides where future investment could be focused. Key elements of the plan include:

Maintaining the historical character and significance of the pier and local port precinct
Extending the western pier head to allow more boats to dock on the main pier including docking on the lower levels to the west
Improving the navigational safety for the Queenscliff-Sorrento Ferry service in the area, including improved access to the boat ramp and changes to the swing moorings

The successful implementation of the actions outlined in the plan will depend on future funding, planning and necessary approvals.

Parks Victoria consulted with key stakeholders and the community throughout 2023 and 2024 alongside technical investigations and other research to help inform the development of the final plan.

Aerial image of Sorrento Pier - Credit Searoad Ferries

Above: An aerial view of Sorrento local port area and supporting infrastructure (Credit: Searoad Ferries)

Above: Map of the Sorrento Local Port Area Plan focus site

Background

Sorrento Pier is an iconic destination one in Port Phillip. Parks Victoria is the local port manager for Port Phillip and Western Port. The two local ports combined include 263,000 hectares of waterway, marine protected areas, channels, piers and jetties, moorings and aids to navigation.

In 2023, parks Victoria started working on a Local Port Area Plan for the pier and its surrounding water uses to ensure its continued safety and success as a maritime asset for many years to come.

Following technical investigations and community and stakeholder input, the final plan was published in August 2024 alongside a community engagement summary.

This project is part of the Victorian Governments Sustainable Local Ports Framework and Parks Victoria's local ports forward planning program. Local ports play an important role for businesses and local communities.

This plan will help guide Victorian Government investment priorities and provide a more sustainable approach to meeting economic, tourism and community needs.

Project funding

This planning project is funding by the Victorian Government via the Department of Transport and Planning.

Who are we working with?

A project reference group comprising representatives from Parks Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Better Boating Victoria, Department of Transport and Planning and Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation will advise on the project.

Documents

Project timeline

Background research and technical investigations, early stakeholder engagement – Autumn / Late Winter 2023
Preparation of the draft plan – Spring 2023
Community consultation of draft plan – Early 2024
Feedback considered – Early to mid 2024
Final plan released – September 2024

Staying updated

For general enquiries email engage@parks.vic.gov.au or call us on 13 1963.
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Related information

Parks Victoria is currently undertaking a local port area planning process for S t Leonards in Port Phillip and Rhyll in Western Port. Plans have been finalised for Mornington Harbour, Williamstown and Sandringham Harbour.

Parks Victoria is the local port manager for Port Phillip, Western Port and Port Campbell. The three local ports combined receive over 33 million visits a year, and include 263,000 hectares of waterway, marine protected areas, channels, piers and jetties, moorings and aids to navigation.

Frequently asked questions

What is a local port area plan?
The Sustainable Local Ports Framework introduces the concept of a local port area plan to guide future investment priorities for local port infrastructure where it’s needed most. A local port area plan addresses current and future uses and development.

Who prepared the plan?
Parks Victoria, as the relevant local port manager, led this planning project.

A Project Reference Group comprising representatives from Parks Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Department of Transport and Planning, and Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action advised on the project.

Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BLCAC) was unable to provide input into the development of this plan however, Parks Victoria will continue to work with BLCAC on future planning and projects in the local area.

When will the plan be implemented?
The successful implementation of the actions outlined in the plan will depend on future funding, planning and necessary approvals. The plan sets out a future direction for the local port area and will be used to direct and prioritise future investment.

Who did you consult with to prepare the plan?

Stage 1- Stakeholder / Key User Consultation
In August 2023, Parks Victoria consulted key local stakeholders and user groups through meetings and focus group discussions.
The participants worked with Parks Victoria to discuss the current uses, issues and future vision of the Sorrento local port area. Early input from this group and members of the Project Reference Group helped inform the draft plan.

View the key findings report here.

Stage 2 – Community Consultation
The next stage involved consulting with the wider community to gather feedback on the draft plan to help inform a final plan. Altogether, 22 people shared their feedback and ideas through an Engage Victoria consultation process that ran from 13 March to 11 April 2024.

The findings from the consultation, and how feedback shaped the plan is available here.