Mystery works baffle Torquay residents

FENCED-OFF works at Point Danger and Elephant Walk have left many Torquay residents guessing, with community forums filled with speculation in recent weeks.

Theories have ranged from a new Hungry Jack’s to a skate park, a casino, a marina, and even an undersea gas pipeline.

In reality, the project is designed to improve communication across Australia — though in Torquay, many are still waiting to hear what it’s all about.

The works form part of a major telecommunications upgrade: a 5000-kilometre fibre-optic cable linking Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Known as the SMAP project, the cable is designed to boost internet capacity as demand grows for data-heavy technologies.

Torquay will serve as a critical midpoint in the national network, with two distinct work zones now under construction. At both Point Danger and Elephant Walk, crews are drilling beneath the seabed to run the cable offshore. A landing station will be built at Baines Crescent.

In a LinkedIn post shared to local Facebook groups, SUBCO founder Bevan Slattery described the Torquay stage as “probably the most challenging” infrastructure task of his career. He said the company had worked with agencies including the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, Surf Coast Shire Council and the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority to minimise impact.

Community consultation is generally understood to mean two-way communication — not just informing residents, but giving them a chance to respond and be heard. While SUBCO has taken steps to inform the community, many locals remained unaware of the project until works began.

Workers on site say they are regularly approached by people asking what the project is about. Information is available online via QR code which is printed on signage near the sites. However, when scanned, the QR codes displayed a message saying they had been “deactivated” at the time this paper went to print.

When asked about community consultation, a Surf Coast Shire spokesperson said the site was located on land managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority. A spokesperson for the authority said SUBCO was responsible for leading community engagement.

SUBCO told the Surf Coast Times that QR-coded signs were put up in April, a letterbox drop was delivered to homes within 300 metres of each site, and some door knocking took place nearby. The company also held an information session for key community groups at the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club in 2024 although it is unclear how many residents knew about it or attended.