Tuesday 30 August 2011
VOL 9. No 35
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
Surf Coast Ti Times mes
FREE WEEKLY
An artist’s impression of a new facility to be built by the Christian Fellowship on the shire land they have made an offer to buy.
HALLELUJAH The chronic shortage of child care places in Torquay is set to ease following a shire council vote to sell a portion of its land
BY HAMISH BROOKS
TORQUAY’S CHILDCARE facilities and shire coffers will get a boost following a council vote to off-load some council land to a Christian group. The Surf Coast Shire council voted on Wednesday night to accept Torquay Christian Fellowship’s offer to purchase some of the land and associated assets on the 1.6 hectare council site bordering Torquay College on Grossmans Road. Torquay Christian Fellowship plans to purchase the major portion of the shire site for use as a community facility able to accommodate worship services, seminars, training and youth events. In addition, the plan includes a not-for-profit early learning and childcare centre, to be located in
Su rf Forecast
a purpose built facility constructed at the rear of the site, capable of catering for about 120 kids. The Surf Coast Times understands the council accepted a Christian Fellowship offer of $2.7m for the land, which was originally to be sold in its entirety as a 2.6 hectare block. At first, the Fellowship was looking to buy the 2.6 hectare block in conjunction with the Lions Village aged care facility, but the deal fell through. According to Mayor Dean Webster, council’s acceptance of Torquay Christian Fellowship’s offer was based on more than financial considerations. “Council was particularly impressed by the way Torquay Christian Fellowship’s bid met our mandatory physical requirements and, more importantly, our social objectives,” he said.
for some years, consequently the opportunity for us as a congregation to help meet that need in Torquay early learning and care gives a dual focus to our plans for the Grossmans Rd site.” Mayor Webster said that Torquay Christian Fellowship’s offer also requires council to subdivide the land in question to create the 1.62-hectare allotment, leaving a second allotment of approximately one-hectare, which currently houses the shire’s works depot. “Council is intending to rezone this land with the intention of permitting future residential development. “Council is effectively realising one community asset to invest in another community asset,” Mayor Webster said.
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“The written submission identified a number of significant community benefits, including the creation of a new early learning and day care centre, the expansion of existing services, free space for community groups and local employment opportunities.” Christian Fellowship senior pastor Chris Rowney was pleased at the council’s decision and looking forward to a project that fitted in well with the intentions of the church and council. “The existing office building will be given a 250 seat auditorium, kitchen, children’s activity areas and multi-purpose meeting rooms and office space,” he said. “The need for more pre-school and especially long day care places in Torquay has been well publicised
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