Coast ‘trade off’ for precinct land

ERIN PEARSON
COUNCIL has backed a landowner’s bid to intensify Torquay development plans after running short of funds to buy land from him, according to a councillor.
Ron Humphrey said council had accepted Charlie Santosporito’s revised plans for a 500 per cent expansion in retail area and inclusion of high-density housing on his land.
The amended proposal conflicted with council’s 2008 Torquay North Outline Development plan for 1000 square metres of retail development and medium-density housing on the site.
The land is between Surf Coast Shire’s civic precinct and Horseshoe Bend Rd.
Council had intended to buy part of the northern end of the site for about $5 million to extend the civic precinct.
Cr Humphrey said council had run out of money to buy the land and was reluctant to extend its $19 million debt.
“The trouble is council is sitting close to its prudential (debt) limit,” he said.
“Council had planned to purchase the land to expand the open space there but they’ve run out of money because they didn’t get what they wanted for the old shire offices and the new offices blew out by $4 million.”
Under Mr Santosporito’s amended development plan council would receive without payment a smaller 3.3 hectares as “public open space” to expand the civic precinct.
Cr Humphrey said the trade off for Mr Santosporito was enough retail space for two major supermarkets and specialty shops.
The new plan also moved the retail site from Horseshoe Bend Rd to Fischer St.
“Do people want this in a location where it’s going to upset so many residents?” Cr Humphrey asked.
“Feeding two major supermarkets in a residential side-street would make the area catastrophic to live in. It’ll be no good whining about it after everything’s built.”
Torquay Commerce and Tourism Association president Martin Duke backed the proposed retail precinct.
The development would service neighbouring homes without impacting on existing traders in Torquay, he said.
“We’re looking at a neighbourhood shopping centre that would be there to cater for the neighbourhood. It’s not going to affect smaller businesses because banking and things will all still be in town.
“Unlike the Bunnings development, it won’t be an eyesore at the entrance of town.”