Creek bid resumed

Alex de Vos
Surf Coast Shire has put development of Torquay’s Spring Creek back on the drawing board, according to a community activist.
Grant Forbes said the shire had lodged with an independent panel a submission that effectively supported eventual development of the area.
The panel will review the submission to make a recommendation to council about whether to seek a planning scheme amendment setting up areas around Torquay and Jan Juc for urban development.
The Independent obtained a copy of the submission, which said the structure plan would accommodate residential growth at Spring Creek “at the appropriate time”. Development would first require new plans including a “settlement boundary to this western growth corridor”, the submission said.
Mr Forbes said the submission was “disappointing” after councillors voted earlier this year to abandon plans for widespread development of Spring Creek.
“I feel that we’ve been bluffed,” Mr Forbes said.
“The planners are thinking short term and they haven’t taken into consideration what the community and thousands of other people want.”
Mr Forbes was furious the shire had ignored the community condemnation to development of Spring Creek, including a protest rally that attracted “thousands”.
He expected plans for a residential and commercial development on an 87-hectare site one kilometre west of Duffields Road to be Spring Creek’s first project.
“Once that one kilometre is gone it will only be another couple of years before the rest is developed – developers won’t stop after that,” he said.
The Independent revealed earlier this year that the project proposed 750 residential allotments and “ancillary uses” such as shops and a Christian College campus.
A website of one of the project partners, Amex, said the $175 million development was set for completion in 2018.
Mayor Libby Mears said the shire submission to the panel was “not in conflict” with council’s earlier decision on Spring Creek.
“Council has a policy that indicates growth in Spring Creek,” she said.
“There is growth that can be accommodated somewhere in Spring Creek.”
Cr Mears said the shire’s proposed amendment “acknowledged” the structure plan “considered” the land one- kilometre west of Duffileds Road for residential growth.