DESPITE the rejection of their plans by the Surf Coast Shire, the proponents of Hotel Indigo are disputing the ruling on several grounds at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).<\/p>\n
Barnes Capital\u2019s application to build a five-storey, 128-room hotel at 2-4 Geelong Road and 48 Bell Street in Torquay was revealed in October 2018, and immediately met with public backlash.<\/p>\n
The council refused the planning application in May this year and cited 11 reasons, including that the hotel exceeded the 12 metres and three storeys allowed in a General Residential Zone (GRZ).<\/p>\n
Barnes Capital\u2019s statement of grounds to VCAT attempts to counter each of these reasons.<\/p>\n
It argues \u201cthe proposed height and number of storeys of the development within the GRZ is not prohibited\u201d and that the application \u201cappropriately responds\u201d to the shire\u2019s design and built form policies.<\/p>\n
VCAT has overruled the shire\u2019s decisions before, most notably with the RACV Torquay Resort.<\/p>\n
The council rejected plans for a fifth storey to be built on the resort, but VCAT overruled the decision, arguing that the two surf clubs already protrude the skyline, and therefore it didn’t matter if the resort did too. Last week, South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman sent a letter to Planning Minister Richard Wynne, saying the hotel\u2019s plans were highly problematic and asking for advice on the matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe \u2018Hotel Indigo\u2019 has a number of significant planning and design issues that cannot be overlooked,\u201d Mr Cheeseman wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe building violates the Surf Coast Shire Planning Scheme by exceeding the maximum height limit. The building is altogether too bulky and large to be consistent with the local planning scheme, regardless of its facade or appearance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Cheeseman publicly stated his opposition to the planning permit soon after its release, as did independent candidate Damien Cole who at the time said the hotel\u2019s design was at odds with Torquay\u2019s character.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe design of the building is a really nice design, if it was in Beijing or if it was in Dubai. But a fivestorey, 17-metre hotel, to be overhanging one of our main trading streets there, in what is still a pretty small coastal community \u2013 it just doesn\u2019t suit the coastal character of the town.\u201d<\/p>\n
VCAT has scheduled a hearing for February 24, 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DESPITE the rejection of their plans by the Surf Coast Shire, the proponents of Hotel Indigo are disputing the ruling on several grounds at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Barnes Capital\u2019s application to build a five-storey, 128-room hotel at 2-4 Geelong Road and 48 Bell Street in Torquay was revealed in October 2018, […]<\/p>\n