Hotel Indigo faces staunch opposition

THE proposed Hotel Indigo project in Torquay continues to elicit strong reactions from community members and politicians.

The application for land on 2-4 Geelong Road and 48 Bell Street is set to go before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in November after the Surf Coast Shire council rejected the developer’s initial proposal.

Greater Torquay Alliance (GTA) president Andrew Cherubin said it was difficult to make the case for a large hotel, given the present circumstances.

“At the moment we’ve got The Sands that are struggling to the point they’ve just gone into administration.

“We just think there’s no real need for another hotel complex when the existing hotel complexes are struggling… I don’t think it’s been justified.”

The GTA has asked Planning Minister Richard Wynne to call the decision in and has urged the council to make a similar request.

Mr Cherubin said he hoped to see the council robustly defend their decision to reject the application.

“I don’t believe they (council) necessarily want it, but it’s about how much resources they put in to try to stop it, as opposed to saying they don’t want it and then letting VCAT make that decision.”

The shire’s general manager of environment and development Ransce Salan said the council was firmly set on pursuing a rejection of the application at VCAT.

“Council has written to the Minister for Planning making him aware of Council’s decision to refuse the planning application for 2-4 Geelong Road and 48-50 Bell Street, and that the application has been appealed to VCAT. The Minister has powers to call in an appeal under certain circumstances, however, has not yet advised if the application will be called in.

“Harwood Andrews has been engaged to represent the Surf Coast Shire Council at the VCAT hearing. Council’s position will be vigorously defended.”

South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman attended a protest against the hotel when it was first proposed in late 2018.

He said his position on the hotel has not softened.

“This proposed hotel looks like a bulky cruise ship and is completely unsuited to the coastal feel and atmosphere of Torquay and the Surf Coast.

“I have objected strongly to the planning application as an individual, and I have also made my views known to the Planning Minister. My opposition to this proposal as an individual is unchanged.”

Mr Cherubin also stated any decision made by VCAT in November could influence rulings on future applications of a similar ilk.

“Technically, town planning doesn’t set a precedent, but we all know that it does. The developer, for instance, has already mentioned the RACV Resort Torquay in their planning application and the height of the RACV.”