By NOEL MURPHY
A PEPPERS hotel at Torquay’s The Sands estate could be in for redevelopment as the Handbury Group weighs its options over the rejection of plans to turn the building into an aged care facility.
Surf Coast councillors rejected the aged care plan last week, leaving the group without recourse to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Spokesperson Cameron Grey said the Handbury Group was “still pretty disappointed”.
“But that (redevelopment) is potentially an option. We need to work through options but I only say possibly.
“To a lot of people’s frustration, these things are set up so there are no appeal rights. There’s not a lot that you can do.
“There’s no appeal to VCAT, that’s the way that part of the process operates. It’s up to the councillors, if you don’t get it you don’t get it.”
Mr Grey ruled out an appeal to state Planning Minister Matthew Guy.
“It’s pretty unusual that the minister would get involved in these sorts of things.”
Mr Grey said the Peppers hotel was operating as usual under Handbury Group management.
The Handbury Group had sought to convert the hotel to a 112-room aged care centre offering low to high-level, respite and general care for the frail and aged.
Estate residents had been worried the plans could affect their access to resort facilities, lower property values and eventually lead to subdivision of the golf course.
Mayor Rose Hodge said council rejected the plans after receiving 200 submissions, a vast majority objecting to the aged care proposal.
Cr Hodge said the Handbury Group was free to re-apply with a new proposal.
Any appeal to the minister was unlikely to be considered unless it was of a more extensive, regional nature, she said.
“It’s finished at the moment. We weighed it up and I really think we made the right decision.”
