Appeal on hotel

Torquay battle revived

THE developer of a proposed mega hotel at Torquay is taking its fight to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Melbourne investment firm Barnes Capital wants to build a 16.9m-high hotel fronting 2-4 Geelong Rd, 48-50 Bell St and Lumley Close.

Surf Coast Shire in May unanimously rejected the plans, which featured 128 rooms, a 100-seat restaurant, conference facilities and retail outlets.

A VCAT spokesman said Barnes Capital was appealing against the council’s refusal to grant a permit under section 77 of the Planning and Environment Act.

He said a compulsory conference was scheduled for November 19 and, if the parties could not reach agreement, a hearing would begin on February 24 next year in Melbourne.

Greater Torquay Alliance president Andrew Cherubin said he was “extremely concerned” about the possible outcome of the appeal.

“VCAT don’t tend to take into account community concerns; when you talk about visual amenity and noise amenity they almost seem to ignore those,” Mr Cherubin said.

“All our planning guidelines state the building is way over the height limits. The community can’t afford to fight them.”

Mr Cherubin said the alliance didn’t object to the development, but felt its size was outside the parameters of the planning guidelines.

Surf Coast Shire environment and development acting general manager Matt Taylor previously told the Addy the council would defend its decision if an appeal was lodged.

The proposal would be the town’s largest tourism offering, with more beds than the RACV’s five-storey, 92-room resort, which opened on the opposite side of Spring Creek five years ago.