MP and developers trade barbs over Spring Creek

AS DEBATE intensifies over the future of the Spring Creek valley, one of the possible developers of the land has claimed South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman “will say and do anything to get elected”.

The comment, by Parklea director Don Welsh, comes in the wake of the recently-opened public submission process for the draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy (SPP), which includes land in the valley to the west of Duffields Road.

Mr Welsh said Mr Cheeseman had changed his stance on building houses in the valley – an issue that has been highly contentious for at least a decade.

“In February 2009 he urged the first Spring Creek plan to be revised, not scrapped. Then, at a planning forum in June 2019, he said he was not qualified to make a planning decision and that he wasn’t an expert.”

Mr Welsh claimed Torquay’s construction industry would suffer without a development in Spring Creek. “I don’t know why the local MP doesn’t want local jobs for local residential builders that builds the local economy and creates more jobs for everyone.”

Mr Cheeseman said several developments in the region would provide a large amount of work for Torquay’s tradespeople. “There is going to be decades of work for our local tradies to build those growth corridors of Geelong, which is literally right on our doorstep. On top of that there is a lot of development to happen in North Torquay and on the east side of Duffields Road.”

Ransce Salan, the Surf Coast Shire’s general manager of environment and planning, confirmed development east of Duffields Road had been approved in 2012.

“The remaining undeveloped area includes 350 lots at a standard residential density.”

Mr Cheeseman said another development on the Midland Highway, which would be a similar size and scope to Armstrong Creek, would further add to the local construction industry.

“The developers want to see tens of thousands of people crammed into Spring Creek. They want to make a quid out of it. It’s not what the community wants.”

According to Graeme Stockton, a representative of the Protect Spring Creek organisation, developers are trying to paint those opposing development as “immoral”. “I don’t think it is fair or accurate to say we are a gated community, because our community wants to save nature in Spring Creek,” he said.

“The Victorian government openly says nature is in decline across Victoria and Spring Creek valley supports an endangered vegetation community.”

To lodge your submission to the draft SPP, head to engage.vic.gov.au/distinctive-areas-and-landscapes-program/surf-coast