You may be aware that the State Government is conducting a public consultation on the Surf Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape Draft Statement of Planning Policy – a policy which will decide the future of the Torquay and Jan Juc townships.
The formal consultation now underway is the culmination of a long process. 11 years ago we held the successful ‘Red Rally’ to show our support for the preservation of Spring Creek. Two years ago Spring Creek become the central issue in our state election. We are now in the final weeks of our effort to save the valley from developers.
Our concern with the draft policy is that the SPP draft still contains a provision for the development of the Spring Creek valley. Entitled simply ‘Option 1’ (outlined on Page 59 of the Draft SPP document), this option provides a pathway for opening up Spring Creek valley 1 km west of Duffields Road to further residential development; an area of more than 200 hectares.
If you are interested in this policy, and wish to have a say, you can visit (before January 22), the government’s Engage Victoria website – https://engage.vic.gov.au/dalsac
What you say in your submission is entirely up to you. If the protection of Spring Creek is important to you, you could as a bare minimum make a submission in support of Option 2 and reject Option 1. Option 2 would create a permanent settlement boundary at Duffields Road.
For additional information on the draft policy, you can visit the Spring Creek campaign site https://www.protectspringcreek.org/learn-more
This also includes additional info on preserving the viewshed at Bells (which would prevent structure like the outrageous WinkiPop platform if views from the water are taken into account, impacts on the Karaaf Wetlands east of Torquay and the potential for a train line between Armstrong Creek and Torquay.
You can follow GT Alliance on facebook to stay up to date on the campaign.
For further information you can contact Damien Cole damien@damiencole.id.au
_____________
