SEEING RED AS SPRAWL FEARS GROW
“We expect Labor to stick to their promise and keep the boundary at Duffields Rd.” GREATER TORQUAY ALLIANCE PRESIDENT ANDREW CHERUBIN
MORE than 100 people rallied in Torquay yesterday in opposition to plans to develop the Spring Creek valley.
In scenes reminiscent of protests held nine years ago when the issue first reared its head, the crowd wore red and waved signs urging politicians to block the development.
Greater Torquay Alliance president Andrew Cherubin said he believed the group sent a strong message to the major parties ahead of this month’s state election.
“It was a good turnout … and my opinion is it shows the people don’t want Spring Creek as an urban development,” he said.
As it stands, the valley is destined to be developed with more than 2000 homes to be built in a 1km section west of Duffields Rd.
The area has been zoned for urban development, while large chunks of land have already been snapped up by developers.
But in a major policy shift in the lead-up to the election, Labor has said it believes the development should be scrapped and Torquay’s town boundary pulled back to Duffields Rd.
However, the party will not abandon the proposal until after a community consultation process.
Mr Cherubin said his group would consider holding a major rally next year if a re-elected Labor government softened its stance.
“We expect Labor to stick to their promise and keep the boundary at Duffields Rd,” he said.
“If we get any indication that they will back away from that for any reason, then certainly we will be making ourselves known.”
Mr Cherubin said the group would also lobby the Coalition — if elected — to review its position, which is to allow the development to go ahead.
Among those attending was Labor candidate for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman, who has been very vocal in his opposition to the development during the campaign.
He said Premier Daniel Andrews had been “very clear” that Labor believed Torquay’s western boundary should be pulled back to Duffields Rd, effectively killing off the development.
Independent candidate Damien Cole was also at the rally.