A major blueprint for the future urban expansion of Lakes Entrance has been unlocked, with East Gippsland Shire Council formally voting to progress Planning Scheme Amendment C161egip at its May 19 meeting.
The carried motion marks a regulatory milestone, authorising council officers to formally seek ministerial approval to exhibit a comprehensive rezoning and development framework for the Lakes Entrance Northern Growth Area. The decision is poised to shape the residential, environmental, and infrastructural landscape of Lakes Entrance for the next several decades.
The Lakes Entrance Northern Growth Area has long been identified as the town’s primary corridor for strategic residential development.
As the coastal town experiences sustained population growth, finding suitable, unconstrained land for new housing has become increasingly critical.
By carrying the motion, council has authorised the chief executive officer, Fiona Weigall, to formally submit the planning scheme documentation to the Victorian Minister for Planning to begin the exhibition and authorisation phase.
During the strategic planning stages, the Northern Growth Area has been subject to rigorous environmental, bushfire risk, and cultural heritage assessments. Given the region’s topography and proximity to the Gunaikurnai cultural landscape and the Gippsland Lakes system, a heavy emphasis has been placed on modern stormwater management to protect local catchments from urban runoff.
Councillors noted that the amendment provides a structured, legally binding mechanism to control how Lakes Entrance expands.
Rather than allowing ad-hoc developments that strain existing town services, the framework mandates that developers meet strict design and environmental standards before a single brick is laid.
The decision provides a strong long-term signal to the regional building and construction sector, promising a steady pipeline of land supply and development activity over the coming years. For local families and incoming residents, the activation of the growth area represents the most viable pathway toward expanding local housing choices, helping to ease regional rental and housing availability pressures.
With the council vote carried unanimously, the amendment package now moves to the Minister for Planning for authorisation to place the scheme on public exhibition.
