By NOEL MURPHY
A SECOND Surf Coast councillor has been forced to backed out of voting on a controversial planning scheme amendment setting Torquay’s boundaries following overtures from a prospective Spring Creek developer.
Cr Brian McKiterick, pictured, has joined council colleague David Bell in pulling out on council legal advice following correspondence to the shire from Christian College, which wants to build a campus in Spring Creek.
Cr McKiterick cited an unspecified “indirect interest” in declaring a conflict of interest.
He did not return the Independent’s calls to determine the nature of the conflict.
His withdrawal leaves council with seven of nine councillors able to vote on the amendment.
Cr Bell withdrew his vote in March to avoid legal action on the grounds of bias because of his pre-election opposition to development around the Spring Creek valley.
Christian College declined to discuss the issue before the Independent went to press.
The C66 planning amendment would prevent development west of Duffields Rd on land zoned farming but previously earmarked for housing.
The amendment, scheduled to go to an independent panel early July, would steer development to Torquay’s north and keep the west as open space, in-line with significant community sentiment.
Christian College has long argued it bought its 15-hectare site west of Duffields Rd in 2007 with the continual encouragement of the then-Surf Coast council.
Surf Coast mayor Libby Coker was unable to elaborate on the nature of Cr McKiterick’s “indirect interest’’, explaining that further detail did not have to be lodged with council.
“Both David Bell and Brian McKiterick declared a conflict of interest re C66 and that’s their right to do so,” she told the Independent.
Sources told the Independent Cr McKiterick had deemed removing himself from the C66 process would be “prudent” after receiving advice from council legal advisors “as a result of a request from Christian College”.
Sid Pope, head of 3228 Residents Association, said Cr McKiterick’s withdrawal was disappointing.
“It’s a shame local democracy is being overridden by the interests of developers,” he said.
“Christian College has espoused values about being part of the community but then uses its muscle to divert the community interest by blocking the democratic process.”
Meanwhile, council has announced a rate hike averaging 39 per cent for owners of about 1400 undeveloped residential properties in the shire.
The hike would put owners under pressure to build on vacant blocks.
Home owners face an average hike of 4.2 per cent, while farmers’ rates could drop an average 8.1 per cent.
