Icon nomination Creek in heritage twist

Alex de Vos
Torquay’s Spring Creek could join the ranks of Australian icons like Sydney Harbour Bridge, Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef in a bid to gazump developers.
Heritage consultant Dr Geoff Mosley has nominated Spring Creek for Australia’s National Heritage list on behalf of Geelong Environment Council.
Listings on the National Heritage register help protect some of Australia’s most important natural and historical places.
Dr Geoff Mosley said the Spring Creek pocket of farmland between Anglesea, Grossmans, Duffields and Great Ocean roads was an area of national significance.
He believed the area’s “rural condition” deserved preservation from plans for residential development.
Dr Mosley hoped a heritage listing would lock up the area from residential “ribbon development” linking communities such as Torquay, Jan Juc and Bellbrae.
“It’s vital for keeping the towns apart,” he said.
Spring Creek’s nomination had reached a “final” consideration stage.
Dr Mosley expected a decision late next year.
“Spring Creek is very important – it’s still in a rural condition,” he said.
“A planning scheme from roughly 1955 showed that the area is not to be used for residential area.”
Dr Mosley said strict Federal Government legislation would cover Spring Creek if his listing bid was successful.
Geelong Environment Council’s Joan Lindros was hopeful the area would earn a place on the heritage register.
“It’s exceedingly important to preserve the lovely rolling green countryside.
“Housing development near the Great Ocean Road is going to significantly reduce its values.”
Almost 3000 objections earlier this year prompted Surf Coast councillors to tear up their plan for almost 14,000 new residents in 600 hectares of residential development at Spring Creek.
Council later lodged a submission with an independent panel acknowledging eventual development in 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.