Big plans at Juc. Still in a land rush

Hamish Heard
An interstate developer is planning a town-centre and residential development in picturesque hills between Jan Juc and Bellbrae.
And other potential developers are circling land west of Duffield’s Road as investors scramble to cash in on a projected doubling of Torquay’s population within 15 years.
Torquay councillor Keith Grossman said Gunns Pty Ltd had purchased more than 120 hectares on the north side of the Great Ocean Road between Jan Juc and Bellbrae.
A local developer, who did not want to be identified, told the Independent the company was planning a town-centre-style development.
Cr Grossman said Gunns had purchased the land last year and would take possession within a few weeks.
“I’ve been speaking to them and they’ve got big plans about getting a real strategic plan implemented in that area which has been designated as a future growth node,” Cr Grossman said.
He called the company’s plans “timely”, given Surf Coast Shire was in the process of developing its structure plan to guide infrastructure and residential development.
“I think this is really what we need because there’s been a lot of ad-hoc development on the outskirts of Torquay over a period of time and this is why we really haven’t got enough ovals and other community facilities.”
Cr Grossman described the site as featuring the “most picturesque” views of the Bellarine Peninsula and the coast.
“It feels like you’ve got an aerial view of Torquay,” he said
The Independent was unable to gain comment from the developer.
Cr Grossman and Cr Dean Webster also confirmed investors had purchased options to buy 120 hectares west of Duffields Road on Jan Juc’s outskirts.
Owner and Melbourne doctor Peter McCann had not sold the land but purchasing options would give the investors first right to buy when the site was opened for development.
“There are investors who have identified land on the west side of Duffield’s Road for development into the future and one of those is a large Western Australian timber company,” Cr Webster said.