A COMMUNITY meeting against the proposed Barham River Road resort is set for tomorrow (Friday), as the Colac Otway Shire officially hands off planning responsibility for the $70 million development.<\/p>\n
The proposal, which would create a resort with 380 rooms, 222 villas, accommodation for 40 staff and a retail precinct, has been divisive in the Apollo Bay community, and the Otway Forum has convened a meeting to express concerns about the application.<\/p>\n
Otway Forum secretary Pete Fillmore said Colac Otway shire acting chief executive officer Rob Dobrzynski and planning consultant Brydon King would be attending the meeting.<\/p>\n
He said Ocean United Investment Group (the developer behind the application) had also been invited, as had all local, state and federal politicians.<\/p>\n
He said \u201cbarring unforeseen circumstance\u201d, Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson and Labor candidate Libby Coker would attend, as would Polwarth MP Richard Riordan.<\/p>\n
Ms Coker said the region \u201cdid not want to be another Gold Coast\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must protect our region\u2019s point of difference \u2013 our region\u2019s natural beauty, our magnificent coast and hinterland and low-scale development be it in Apollo Bay, Torquay, Anglesea or Lorne.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also question the need for the development to have a significant retail precinct with a grocery, pharmacy, restaurants and bars, when the Apollo Bay shopping precinct is only 3.6 kilometres away.\u201d<\/p>\n
An association of people objecting to the development has already signed up more than 1,000 members, with 90 per cent permanent residents or ratepayers in Apollo Bay.<\/p>\n
In November, the shire announced it would request Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne to call in the planning application, and this week welcomed Mr Wynne\u2019s decision to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder a call-in scenario, the Minister establishes an independent expert panel of planners. Its purpose is to give all parties a fair and equal hearing regarding the proposal,\u201d Colac Otway mayor Joe McCracken said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will mean that all community members, associations, clubs and interested parties can make a submission and speak to that submission at the planning panel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s meeting will be held at the Apollo Bay Youth Club, Moore Street, Apollo Bay, from 4-6pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A COMMUNITY meeting against the proposed Barham River Road resort is set for tomorrow (Friday), as the Colac Otway Shire officially hands off planning responsibility for the $70 million development. The proposal, which would create a resort with 380 rooms, 222 villas, accommodation for 40 staff and a retail precinct, has been divisive in the […]<\/p>\n