Although the Spring Creek Urban Growth Framework Plan was officially voted by the Surf Coast Shire Council as rejected (Council meeting 22nd April - read about it here), it seems that Spring Creek Development proposals have cropped up again as part of the C37 Amendment. Read more about it here.

The development for the land bordered by Duffields Road (to the East), Grossmans Road (to the North), Great Ocean Road (South) and Anglesea Road (West) is back on the agenda. Even after the passionate, vocal community angst as shown during the Spring Creek Urban Growth Framework Proposal which led to its rejection.

Speak Up for Spring Creek

We’re a group of concern residents from 3228 (Torquay to Bellbrae) who want to ensure that as a community we go into planning decisions made by the Surf Coast Shire with our eyes open and our heard as part of their community consultation.

The Rejected Framework Strategy

A Framework Strategy was being circulated that proposed up to 14,000 additional residents in the beautiful Spring Creek Valley, adding to almost 10,000 new residents slated for the north side of Torquay. The Spring Creek Development would have contributed to the tripling of the population of Torquay! With the already growing pressures of the Armstrong Creek development (60,000 new residents 7 min drive away), the proposed Spring Creek Urban Growth Framework would have created enormous pressures on our schools, roads, beaches, parks and local amenities.

The Spring Creek Framework proposed borders were; Duffields Road to the east, Anglesea Road to the west, Grossmans Road to the north and Great Ocean Road to the south. The majority of Spring Creek was under threat of dense development; with lifestyle, environmental and economic consequences. The wonderful characters of Bellbrae, Jan Juc and Torquay will all be swallowed in one enormous sprawl.

Council officers were proposing a housing density of 20 to 30 houses per hectare for the length and breadth of Spring Creek - from Duffields Rd through to Bellbrae.  This was significantly more crowded than Ocean Views Estate in Torquay, and more akin to inner suburbia and inner Melbourne.  A typical large "suburban block" is around 700 - 800 sq metres.  Spring Creek Valley sites will be much less than half this size (around 300 sq m).  This was much smaller than the size of an individual unit in one of the developments of 3 units per block in "old Torquay".

More information about the strategy can be found at:

http://www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/SpringCreekUGAFP.htm

Future?