State government calls for submissions on Spring Creek

THE GENERAL public are invited to make submissions supporting or opposing development in Spring Creek valley.

A draft Statement of Planning Policy released by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning sets out two distinct options for the ecologically diverse area, which will form the basis for the overall Surf Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL).

Submissions will inform the final planning decisions for Spring Creek, which spans one kilometre west of Duffields Road, between the Great Ocean Road and Grossmans Road.

Surf Coast Energy Group’s Graeme Stockton said it was critical people made a submission.

“The whole DAL process is going to rely on community coming out strongly to have their say,” he said.

The draft SPP presents two options; option one proposes low density, ecological sustainable development in the area, and option two presents a settlement boundary at Duffields Road and that the area between Duffields Road and Bellbrae would be rural land.

The Protect Spring Creek group said it was unclear what constitutes ‘low density’ or how it will be ‘ecologically sustainable’.

Greater Torquay Alliance Secretary Darren Noyes-Brown said the community is not in favour of further development.

“Option two is about setting a permanent legislated settlement boundary at Duffields Road rather than subdividing the first kilometre of Duffields Road for residential development,” he said.

“This option reflects the consistent stance of the community for well over a decade with only 20 of the 2,823 submissions in the 2009 consultation in favour of development.”

The group’s suspicion of the terminology lies in the previous planning proposal, which showed 1,770 houses within the kilometre west of Duffields road area.

Mr Noyes-Brown believes Jun Juc and Torquay would need more roads and traffic lights due to thousands more people in the community. The town would suffer from increased congestion on roads, in carparks and boast less nature.

“We don’t want this for our unique community,” he said.

“Spring Creek is the 2020 version of saving Bells Beach. If a developer proposed an ‘ecologically sustainable development’ at Bells Beach, people would see it instantly as a fake.

“Yet here it is being applied to Spring Creek valley where the ecology and wildlife would somehow be served by a sea of houses.

“Spring Creek is truly an extraordinary economic asset to the people of Torquay if we look after it.

“We need to think of it as a treasure to look after. If we look after it we will be rewarded.

Member for South Barwon, Darren Cheeseman is encouraging those making submissions to select Option two.

“During the 2018 election I campaigned for the Torquay town boundary to be moved back to Duffields Road so that Spring Creek will be protected from development, and that is exactly what Option two proposes. I don’t want to see any sort of non-rural development infringing on such a beautiful and distinctive valley. I want to see Spring Creek protected as rural land for generations to come.”

Head to engage.vic.gov.au/dalsac to make your submission now. Submission opportunities will end on January 22 2021