RACV ‘units anger’

Erin Pearson
“AMBIGIOUS” planning laws have delivered the Surf Coast’s first five-storey building, according to a Torquay councillor.
Ron Humphrey blamed the Surf Coast’s “easily challenged” laws for RACV winning an appeal to add an extra storey to an accommodation centre proposed for Torquay’s formerly public golf course.
Cr Humphrey was “sympathetic” to residents opposed to the development.
“I’d like to see councils given the power to be more descriptive in planning controls in relation to the developments happening down here,” he said.
“I respect the decisions made by the umpire…because we need to get behind an organisation such as RACV that will bring tourism to the area but what happened with RACV was that a lack of planning controls opened the door for it.”
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal overturned Surf Coast Shire council’s earlier rejection of the RACV proposal.
The motoring giant, which took over the course site from Torquay Golf Club, previously earned approval for 67 motel units in a 16-metre-high development but wanted to add 25 rooms in another storey.
Geelong Otway Tourism’s Roger Grant backed the development as “incredibly important”.
“It’s an exciting development. I accept it’s controversial but, purely from a tourism point of view, it’s difficult not to be excited about it – it’s right at the start of the Great Ocean Road”
The proposal is part of RACV’s $90 million golf site redevelopment.
RACV’s Sue Blake expected the project to be complete in mid-2013.
The additional level would allow the resort to “move into” the conference and wedding market, she said.