Creek ‘to house 4400’

ERIN PEARSON
Surf Coast Shire would put 4400 residents in Spring Creek under a draft plan to double the population of Torquay and Jan Juc in 30 years.
The shire released its draft 2040 plan this week, drawing criticism from a leading Spring Creek activist but support from Torquay’s peak business body.
The plan targeted additional development to accommodate a population of up to 28,000 by 2040.
Speak Up For Spring Creek’s David Bell said he was in “sheer disbelief” the plan confirmed the shire wanted the new town boundary to include the Spring Creek corridor.
“I’m disgusted they’re saying this has come from community consultation,” Mr Bell said.
“So many people aren’t supporting this level of growth. The population we have here in summer is what the town will become year-round and then it’ll double again in summer.
“We can’t handle this. There are other values in life other than business values.
“I’ll keep going against this.”
The shire released the plan after months of community consultation to determine sustainable growth for the region.
The plan would put 8700 new residents in Torquay’s north, 1400 east of Duffields Road and 4400 in northern and southern areas of the Spring Creek corridor.
The plan’s population forecast fell between two lower options in the shire’s three proposed “scenarios” released last year.
Torquay Commerce and Tourism Association president Martin Duke supported the plan but urged the shire to “be considerate” of existing small businesses in Torquay.
“This is good but the one thing we want to do is maintain character so people want to visit,” he said.
“We don’t want a big, green-belt supermarket or shopping centre to draw locals out of town.”
Mr Duke said public transport must work properly to bring people in and out of the town centre.
The plan included new public and private school zones in Torquay’s north and at Spring Creek.
A report on the plan said Torquay-Jan Juc experienced a 5.1 per cent population increase in 2008/2009, among the fastest in the state.