By Natalee Kerr
A community group has urged councillors to make a “firm” decision on a five-storey hotel controversially proposed to overlook the start of the Great Ocean Road at Torquay.
3228 Residents Association president Andrew Cherubin called on council to reject the multi-million-dollar plans before a five-day hearing scheduled at the state’s planning tribunal in February.
The site, covering 2-4 Geelong Rd, 48-50 Bell St and Lumley Cl, presently accommodates vacant allotments and a car wash.
Surf Coast Shire had the “right to refuse” the application because council controlled the land below and the airspace above Lumley Cl, Mr Cherubin said.
“Council have the ability to stop this proposed development in its tracks, by a simple, uncontestable decision,” he said.
The 16.9-metre-high, 128-room hotel would include a 100-seat restaurant, an indoor pool, a day spa, conference facilities and shops.
Objections to the development have focused on the building’s bulk and height, its visual impacts and site coverage.
Councillors refused the planning application in May but developer Barnes Capital later decided to appeal the ruling at Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Mr Cherubin believed that shire officers had given an “in principal” approval to build over and under Lumley Cl.
“We would like to be informed if councillors were aware of this decision and how it came about.”
Mr Cherubin said council could deny permission to build over and under Lumley Cl to avoid a “costly” VCAT process would be avoided because the development would then be “unbuildable” given its proposed design.
“It is our understanding that any decision by council on this would not be open for review.
“This will benefit the community by saving the ratepayers money by negating the need to pay solicitors.”
Mr Cherubin’s call comes after community members and the developer failed to reach an agreement regarding the proposal at a compulsory VCAT conference last month.
Surf Coast Shire’s infrastructure manager Anne Howard said council determined to refuse the planning application for 2-4 Geelong Rd in May.
“Council understood at the time that approval for access to Lumley Cl was subject to a separate process that may need to be also considered if (VCAT) determines to issue a planning permit.”
