Shire to try to host forum on Haven Torquay

THE Surf Coast Shire council is siding with Torquay North residents who object to the proposed Haven Torquay development, resolving to attempt to set up a forum and invite all interested parties.

To be operated by Mind Australia and funded by Homes Victoria, the project at 26 Silverye Street would include 12 one-bedroom residences for individuals with long-term mental health issues who are unable to live independently.

Concerns raised by nearby residents include overdevelopment, the site’s lack of outdoor space, its proximity to Torquay Coast Primary School, parking and traffic impacts, and the possibility of smoking on balconies close to neighbouring houses.

Some residents are also unhappy with the consultation process run by Mind Australia and The Haven Foundation, which have continued to resist holding a public forum on the issue.

“We believe that publicly debating the lives, welfare and wellbeing of future residents of Haven Torquay and their right to live in an established residential neighbourhood is inappropriate,” The Haven Foundation executive director of housing strategy Mark Heeney said earlier this month.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, councillors Heather Wellington and Paul Barker successfully moved a notice of motion for the shire to host a group forum about Haven Torquay.

This forum would invite:

• Up to four representatives of Mind Australia and/or The Haven Foundation
• The community members who lodged the “Silvereye Haven Development” petition and up to five other representatives of residents of all dwellings located within 250m of the development
• Up to three parents from the Torquay Coast Primary School community
• Cr Wellington, Cr Barker and two extra participating councillors as appointed by the mayor
• Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan, and
• A minister from the state Labor Government.

The forum aims to “providing a fair opportunity for all parties to raise and discuss concerns, risks and benefits associated with the development, while respecting the privacy of potential residents”.

Shire chief executive officer Robyn Seymour’s information report in the notice of motion states Mind Australia’s preference to communicate with individuals rather than a group, and that “officers understand that [Mind Australia] will decline to participate in a proposed forum(s) if invited”.

The notice of motion states the forum will not proceed if Mind Australia or Haven Foundation representatives do not agree to attend.

Cr Wellington said changes to the Planning Scheme as part of the Victorian government’s Big Housing Build meant the usual planning controls did not apply to Haven Torquay.

“I’m a very strong defender of people’s rights to reasonable amenity – not perfect amenity, but objectively reasonable amenity.

“There are always competing rights with developments that need to be balanced, and most of us have the opportunity for our concerns about development that threaten our amenity to be heard and adjudicated independently, but these residents and parents at this school have been denied that.”