Holes in the Big Cheese’s policy
PLANS to build 2000 homes at Spring Creek would be scrapped if South Barwon Labor candidate Darren Cheeseman is elected and gets his way.
There are many locals who would agree with this plan (and would-be residents who would disagree) but that’s not the point.
The point is the former member for Corangamite, who did not achieve a great deal for our region while he held that role, appears to be making up his own policy on the hop.
As we report today, the policy of Mr Cheeseman’s party is to review the Torquay town boundary and then make a call on whether to scrap the existing boundary.
The candidate is going beyond this — saying he aims to definitely scrap it.
When called on this by incumbent South Barwon MP Andrew Katos, Mr Cheeseman’s rejoinder is that his Liberal rival is simply being an advocate for developers, while he — Mr Cheeseman — is advocating for the community.
It is true the developers who have relied on prior approvals to make plans for the 2000 homes are unhappy, not so much with the Labor policy as what I suppose we have to, for clarity, call ‘the Cheeseman policy’.
In fact they are threatening to sue on behalf of the investors if it goes ahead.
Mr Cheeseman had until recently lead a relatively quiet campaign since his return to town from Ballarat upon declaring his intention to run.
But now he appears to be doing whatever it takes to try to snatch victory in what could shape as a tight campaign.
The major parties are engaged in a kind of tit-for-tat antidevelopment arms race in the seat.
Mr Cheeseman’s new policy may end up being very popular. It could also end up being very expensive.
Whatever the case, the Big Cheese’s plan has more holes in it than the Swiss variety.