Resident ‘keen’ on house plan

Alex de Vos
NEW Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman has moved into a rental property in Torquay.
Mr Cheeseman said he signed the lease for the house between Christmas and New Year’s Day and moved to Torquay two weekends ago.
Mr Cheeseman said he choose Torquay for its “energetic and youthful outlook”.
“We looked at houses throughout the Bellarine Peninsula and a couple of places in Belmont,” Mr Cheeseman said.
“But we liked Torquay and the Surf Coast.
“Like most married couples, my wife had a say in it as well.”
During the election campaign Mr Cheeseman copped criticism from then Liberal MP Stewart McArthur for living in Ballarat.
Mr Cheeseman had vowed to move to the region if he won the election.
The Labor MP said he met with Surf Coast Shire councillors to discuss various issues on the council’s agenda.
Mr Cheeseman said he was “keen” to see the outcome of the shire’s plan to bring public housing tenants to Torquay.
State Government announced last month a $50,000 grant for Surf Coast Shire to develop plans for “affordable housing that engage the private sector, social and/or public housing” in the Spring Creek urban growth area.
But former Surf Coast Shire mayor Keith Grossman said public housing would be incompatible with the lifestyle at Torquay.
“I’m certainly keen to see the outcome of that (council’s plan to develop public housing in Torquay),” Mr Cheeseman said.
“I’m pleased the Surf Coast Council is taking an active interest in ensuring all communities have accessible housing,” Mr Cheeseman said.