Developers delight

A lobby group for developers is “delighted” with a panel report setting up part of Spring Creek for residential development, according to the group’s spokepserson.
Urban Development Institute’ of Australia Victoria branch executive director Tony De Domenico said the report to Surf Coast Shire council reaffirmed the site one-kilometre west of Duffel’s Road as Torquay’s “future urban growth corridor”.
“The UDIA believes that the decision provides the community, land owners and developers with some certainty and a level of confidence about Torquay’s growth direction over the next 15 to 20 years,” he said.
Surf Coast councillors will consider the report’s recommendations at a council meeting on September 23.
The State Government-appointed panel investigated council’s proposed C37 planning scheme amendment to guide development of Torquay and Jan Juc.
The Independent revealed earlier this year that the 87-hectare, one-kilometre west 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.
Any further development of Spring Creek will be subject to a Sustaintable Futures – Torquay Jan Juc consultation process to prepare a new planning framework.
Council announced the consultation process after dumping its initial plans to develop Spring Creek.
Mr De Demenico said the report pointed out that council would have to retain the one-kilometre-west site for development regardless of whether the consultation process put the brakes on residential growth.
“In light of the decision, a number of the UDIA’s members are now looking forward to working closely with…council and the Torquay community to deliver a high-quality development for the township as it continues to grow over the coming years,” he said.
A shire statement said the report recommended only “minor changes” to the planning scheme amendment.
“The panel agrees with many of the submitters and the Surf Coast Shire council, who all stressed the need for any development in Spring Creek to be high quality, sensitive and sustainable,” the statement said.