Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 2 August 2011
VOL 9. No 31
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
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The Surf Coast played host to an untamed night of drum and dance on Saturday when West African percussion and dance ensemble Muhanamwe joined local troupe Wild Moves for a one off show at Eumeralla Camp in Anglesea. Pictured from left, enjoying the night, are Wild Moves members Sabiena von Es, Jacqui Fenwick, Fiona Crawford-Trinham, Jacqui Dreessens and Bernadette Zen. Photo: PETER MARSHALL
BAD CALL? BY ELEANOR WOODS
THE SURF COAST Shire has been slammed by developers for backing out of plans to develop Spring Creek, saying the decision will have “far reaching and negative impacts upon the Torquay community”. West Alliance - which includes Amex Corporation and other developers and land owners in the area has said that council moving forward with its 2040 strategy without development at Spring Creek “makes a mockery of decades of council’s own planning and consultation work”. The group’s spokesperson, Amex Corporation’s Rob Burgess, said the act “demonstrates a failure of leadership”. Surf Coast Shire Mayor Dean Webster refutes these claims and had little more to add to the debate. “Council has clearly listened to the local
community in making its decision on Spring Creek and the Planning Minister has recognised this in his response to council’s decision,” Webster said. Community members were ecstatic council withdrew the plan. Stand Up for Spring Creek’s David Bell was celebrating this week, after leading a colourful protest group to victory. “The group is very happy. People feel like they have been listened to,” he said. “They feel like they have a voice in the planning of the area. It was a brave move by the council. They practically had a gun to their heads and they took a brave and principled decision to stand up. I think he would be a brave minister if he went ahead and developed the area now. “From here I would like to see a broad discussion between the State government, council and the
Surf Forecast
a vocal minority with no workable plan for managing the inevitable growth of Torquay. “Thirty-nine community infrastructure projects, with an estimated cost of $45.5 million, rely on contributions from development in the 1km West (area). Without this development, it is unlikely that many open space, community facility and road projects planned for Torquay will be able to proceed.” Planning Minister Matthew Guy has said he will continue to work with the Surf Coast Shire on land supply and affordability issues in Torquay. “Given the council is willing to consider other locations apart from Spring Creek, a ministerial amendment is no longer necessary and will not proceed,” Guy said. “The Coalition Government reaffirms its offer to work constructively with the council and in partnership with the people of Torquay.”
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community so we can together decide the best way to develop the area. For now, the red shirts can rest.” The 1km West Alliance’s Rob Burgess believes the decision to abandon the development was “irresponsible and seriously compromises the future of Torquay”. “Well-planned and appropriately managed development in the area 1km west of Duffields Road is necessary for and beneficial to Torquay,” he said. The decision, he said, ignored good planning principles that would have prevented “ad hoc” planning decisions. “The absence of available land for housing will drive up land-prices and place pressure on existing residential areas, particularly the Torquay town centre. “This decision turns its back on the findings of the community consultation, in favour of the position of
The Surf Coast Shire has come under fire from developers who say that backing out of plans to develop Spring Creek is detrimental to Torquay
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