Identity, Culture and the Politics of Community Development Edited by Stacey-Ann Wilson Chapter 6 The Lure of Local – Community Activism and Place Ursula de Jong, Robert Fuller, Fiona Gray, David Jones Peer reviewed preprint version First Published February 2015. http://www.cambridgescholars.com/identity-culture-and-the-politics-of-community-development Introduction The intertwined relationship between the built and natural environments characterise and define coastal towns, especially those with significant heritage values. Our research is located in the context of the “sea change” phenomenon, which is fundamentally changing the coastal towns of Australia. Barbara Norman, a past national president of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) , summarised the current struggle occurring in many of Australia’s coastal regions when she wrote: “the Australian coastline is littered with exhausted communities battling to save the character and environment of their townships” (Norman, 2008). The Australian National Sea Change Taskforce was established in 2004, as a response to these wider community and professional concerns, and seeks “to ensure that coastal development is managed with a focus on the sustainability of coastal communities and the coastal environment”. Gurran et al. (2006) concluded that more detailed research is needed to develop new responses to coastal development, particularly in terms of promoting community wellbeing, strengthening social cohesion, avoiding socio-economic and socio-spatial polarisation and preserving sense of place. This chapter considers the twin historic coastal townships of Sorrento and Queenscliff, located either side of Port Phillip Heads, Victoria, Australia. The blend of the natural and historic settings is a powerful drawcard for those who can afford to purchase properties in these locations. However, the values and aspirations of many of the new owners have been formed elsewhere and can be in conflict with those of long-established residents. The new owners often have a strong desire to renovate, upgrade and/or enlarge their new purchase; occasionally demolishing to rebuild. This often leads to an incremental erosion of the essence of place. The difference in values and