Site’s set on creek

Alex de Vos
A developer has unveiled a new website touting controversial plans to carve up Torquay’s Spring Creek for thousands of new residents.
The Amex website said the development, 1.5km west of Torquay’s town centre, was “undulating and offers sweeping ocean views”.
The website said Amex conducted a week-long workshop in 2008 to “develop an understanding of the growth issues confronting Torquay and to enable informed concept planning of the land to begin”.
“Considerable time and effort was spent during the workshop travelling around Torquay,” the website said.
“The aim of this was to better understand the town’s sense of place.”
The Independent reported in 2009 that further development of Spring Creek would be subject to a Sustainable Futures 2040 – Torquay Jan Juc consultation process to prepare a new planning framework. Surf Coast Shire announced the consultation process after dumping its initial plans to develop Spring Creek.
Amex’s project is known as Spring Creek’s “one-kilometre west” proposal. The company had already drawn up plans before council tore up its initial Spring Creek framework, which also proposed opened up hundreds of other hectares for development.
Amex said it “looks forward” to working with council on the shire’s 2040 project.
“Amex recognises the importance of contributing in a positive and meaningful way to the 2040 project, which in turn will form the basis to delivering high quality growth in Torquay over the coming years,” the website said.
An Amex spokesperson told the Independent the developer was “waiting for the 2040 project to begin and would go from there”.
Surf Coast Community and Ratepayers’ Association president Spencer Leighton this week slammed the proposal. He demanded the shire lock up Spring Creek from development.
“The Surf Coast Community and Ratepayers’ Association wants Duffields Road, to the north of the Great Ocean Road to be the boundary,” Mr Leighton said.
“But plans for development of one-kilometre west along Spring Creek Valley fly in the face of this.
“The Spring Creek Valley should be a green zone or at the worst rural/residential.”