Creek homes shock

Alex de Vos
State Government could still approve a residential development proposed for Torquay’s Spring Creek regardless of council voting to abandon a planning framework for the area, according to a spokesperson.
The spokesperson for Planning Minister Justin Madden said the proposal to house almost 2000 new residents would be “treated separately”.
Last week’s council vote would have “no impact” on the proposal even though it was for a site within the abandoned framework area, the spokesperson said.
The 87-hectare site is one kilometre west of Duffields Road at Jan Juc.
The proponents are Trinity Funds Management Group, Amex Western Australia Property Developers and Geelong’s Christian College.
An Amex website states the plan proposes 750 residential allotments and “ancillary uses” such a schools, shops and community facilities.
Christian College plans to build a campus within the development.
The website said the $175 million development was set for completion in 2018.
Surf Coast Shire included the proposed development in a structure plan for Torquay and Jan Juc.
Council voted last month to ask State Government to appoint an independent panel to review the structure plan.
Approval would clear the way for work to start on the residential development.
In last week’s vote to abandon the framework plan, councillor’s included a point “noting that the current policy in the…Torquay/Jan Juc Structure Plan…considers residential growth in the Spring Creek corridor on land one-kilometre west of Duffields Road”.
Speak Up For Spring Creek’s David Bell said he was “extremely angry” the development “slipped through in that structure plan”.
He said he was unaware until contacted by the Independent that the proposed development could still go ahead despite council’s vote.
“I’m angry there wasn’t more advertising (of the development). It highlights a lack of transparency in council’s planning department.”
Mr Bell said his lobby group opposed the development in “any way, shape or form”.
“We will stand up and make a lot of noise,” he said.
But councillor Jim Tutt last week warned that some residential development at Spring Creek was inevitable.
“There will be some development at Spring Creek but we’ve got to work out how much.”