PACK THEM IN
Government orders Surf Coast Shire to increase housing density at Spring Creek as issue becomes hot election topic
JUST weeks out from the state election, the State Government and Surf Coast Shire have locked horns over a decade-old plan to develop 2000 homes at Spring Creek.
The controversial development west of Torquay is due to start construction next year.
But planning Minister Richard Wynne has ordered Surf Coast Shire to resubmit a structure plan for the area, demanding it include higher housing densities.
This comes days after Labor candidate for South Barwon, Darren Cheeseman, said he wants to see the development scrapped. It led to a developer saying he would consider legal action if it was shelved.
Ten years after the Surf Coast Shire started discussing the area, it’s become an issue that could decide the marginal seat of South Barwon on November 24.
PLANS to build housing at Spring Creek continue to dominate the political agenda in South Barwon, where the major parties are wrestling for key votes in the marginal seat.
As the clock ticks down to the state election on November 24, a war of words has broken out between Labor and the Liberals over decade-old plans to develop Spring Creek, to the west of Torquay.
Although none of the 2000 planned homes have been built, there has been a series of planning approvals for the new residential area, with developers hoping to start construction next year.
While both parties have accused each other of allowing the development to go ahead, a split is emerging on what to do next.
The Liberals have committed to preserving Torquay’s existing town boundary, which would mean the Spring Creek development would continue as planned.
But Labor candidate Darren Cheeseman has added a twist, saying he wants to see the development scrapped and the town boundary pulled back 1km to Duffields Rd.
Mr Cheeseman’s comments on Spring Creek have fuelled concerns among developers, with one telling the Geelong Advertiser last week it would consider legal action if the development was pulled.
Further complicating the issue is that the Labor candidate’s position is not formal party policy, with Daniel Andrews merely promising to review the town boundary.
However, the State Labor Government yesterday shifted slightly on the issue, revealing it would put the Spring Creek Structure Plan “on hold” until after the election to allow for community consultation on Torquay’s boundaries.
But at the same time it was casting doubt on Spring Creek’s future, with Planning Minister Richard Wynne ordering the Surf Coast Shire to resubmit a structure plan for the area, with orders that it include greater housing densities.
An October 23 letter from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) — sent to the shire — revealed Mr Wynne deemed Surf Coast’s initial structure plan was “not suitable”.
According to the letter, changes needed to be made to accommodate a future primary school, more protection of Bellarine yellow gum trees, and residential densities “comparable to those already being delivered in other key development areas in the town”.
The Government is playing down the significance of the DELWP letter, claiming it is merely administrative and does not pre-empt the outcome of the review into Torquay’s town boundary.
But South Barwon state Liberal MP Andrew Katos said it was evidence Mr Cheeseman was misleading the
“We’ve been played by both major parties. They’ve used this issue as a political football for the last 10 to 15 years.” SOUTH BARWON I NDEPENDENT CANDIDATE DAMIEN COLE
community about Labor’s intentions for Spring Creek.
“This letter shows that the Labor Government actually wants greater densities rivalling Torquay North,” he said.
“This isn’t an administrative letter. This is someone with the authority to speak for the Government and it shows what Labor actually wants to do.”
Meanwhile, Mr Cheeseman was yesterday attacking the Liberals over comments from Opposition Leader Matthew Guy that Geelong should be home to half a million people by 2050.
“The news that the Liberals would force development into Spring Creek as part of their plan to jam 500,000 into Geelong and the Surf Coast is another slap in the face to the community,” he said.
The Spring Creek issue dates back to at least 2008 when the Surf Coast Shire started to discuss developing the area.
Further steps were taken when Labor’s Justin Madden expanded the Torquay town boundary in 2010, and again in 2014 when Mr Guy — then the state’s planning minister — issued planning approval for the area west of Duffields Rd. The revival of the Spring Creek issue comes at a time the Labor Party believes it can win back the seat of South Barwon, held by Mr Katos on a slim margin of less than 3 per cent.
But amid the fresh promises and finger pointing, others in the Torquay community are refusing to buy into the game.
Local resident Damien Cole, who is running as an independent candidate in South Barwon, said both parties were at fault for the Spring Creek “debacle”.
“We’ve been played by both major parties. They’ve used this issue as a political football for the last 10 to 15 years,” he said.
“Why should we trust either major party with promises that conveniently come four weeks out from an election, when for years we’ve had the community screaming and furiously waving arms at Spring St saying none of us want this?”
Mr Cole said growth in Spring Creek was “totally unnecessary” given the residential areas already being built to Torquay’s north.
The Greater Torquay Alliance — a local lobby group — is also opposed to the development and has expressed frustration with the current state of play.
In response to the DELWP letter this week, the group said it was disappointed the Planning Minister had called for increased housing density in Spring Creek.
“The community hasn’t wanted development in the valley during this whole process, and if development is to be forced on us, then the lots should be low density,” it said.
The GT Alliance also said it was “confusing” that Mr Cheeseman was advocating for no development in Spring Creek at the same time Mr Wynne was proposing higher density.
It is obvious Labor thinks votes can be won on the issue, but whether locals are willing to believe it should be clearer after November 24.