GT Alliance "Don’t Be Fooled People Of Torquay!
We think the developers’ claims on the front of todays Surf Coast Times about the benefits of developing the Spring Creek valley are not correct. For instance, they claim the following:
1. There will be rehabilitation of the creek: How? By adding bridges & walking paths? The addition of 1,700 houses will significantly add to pollution in the creek with increased nutrient load and sedimentation and will significantly change the flow of the creek.
2. There will be protection of the Bellarine Yellow Gums: How can removal of a good proportion of the Bellarine Yellow Gums be protection? The latest plan is based on the old vegetation offset system where many Bellarine Yellow Gums were to be lost
3. They worked with community groups for more than a decade: What groups? We had 1 meeting with one of the developers then they did the opposite of what they said they could do. We aren’t aware of any community groups in our area that support the developers. The developers were forced by council and government to be part of forums, they did not “work with” the community groups. They have opposed all suggestions that the community groups offered.
4. ‘State government don’t have a mandate’: But the Premier Dan Andrews stated just before the last state election, "Duffields Road is the boundary, not one step further, I can’t be clearer than that. …..there will be no development beyond that”, that sounds very much like a mandate to us! It’s why Labor and Darren Cheeseman MP won the seat of South Barwon and the Torquay vote was so strong for them!
5. Development will create 370 permanent jobs: Really? Please show us your independent modelling to back up this claim!
The developers conveniently ignore all the extra ‘threatening processes’ that come with residential development. These are well documented in the literature including the following: increase in feral animals, environmental weeds from garden escapes, pet dog and cat pressure, increase in exotic birds like Indian Mynahs, Starlings etc in response to a ‘new home garden landscape’ and permanent people pressure.
Torquay needs a comprehensive and independent Impact Study so that all these claims that we believe are spurious can be refuted or verified.
When the next phase of consultation comes around (most likely next month), don’t be fooled by the out of town developers and their vested interests.
Subscribe here https://engage.vic.gov.au/distinctive-areas.../surf-coast to be notified by state government when consultation starts and make sure you have your say."
- GT Alliance.
The GT Alliance is a community collective supported by the following 10 community and environmental groups:
3228RA - Torquay Residents Association,
Surfers Appreciating The Natural Environment (SANE)- Bells Beach environment,
Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast Branch - environment,
Surf Coast Energy Group (SCEG) - environment,
Surf Coast Animal Rescue Services (SCARS) - wildlife,
Plastic Wise Torquay - environment,
Danawa Community Garden,
Jan Juc Coast Action
Torquay Land Care,
Torquay Coast Action. ... See more
Don’t Be Fooled People Of Torquay!
We think the developers’ claims on the front of todays Surf Coast Times about the benefits of developing the Spring Creek valley are not correct. For instance, they claim the following,
1. There will be rehabilitation of the creek: How? By adding bridges & walking paths? The addition of 1,700 houses will significantly add to pollution in the creek with increased nutrient load and sedimentation and will significantly change the flow of the creek.
2. There will be protection of the Bellarine Yellow Gums: How can removal of a good proportion of the Bellarine Yellow Gums be protection? The latest plan is based on the old vegetation offset system where many Bellarine Yellow Gums were to be lost,
3. They worked with community groups for more than a decade: What groups? We had 1 meeting with one of the developers then they did the opposite of what they said they could do. We aren’t aware of any community groups in our area that support the developers. The developers were forced by council and government to be part of forums, they did not “work with” the community groups. They have opposed all suggestions that the community groups offered.
4. ‘State government don’t have a mandate’: But the Premier Dan Andrews stated just before the last state election, "Duffields Road is the boundary, not one step further, I can’t be clearer than that. …..there will be no development beyond that”, that sounds very much like a mandate to us! It’s why Labor and Darren Cheeseman MP won the seat of South Barwon and the Torquay vote was so strong for them!
5. Development will create 370 permanent jobs: Really? Please show us your independent modelling to back up this claim!
The developers conveniently ignore all the extra ‘threatening processes’ that come with residential development. These are well documented in the literature including the following: increase in feral animals, environmental weeds from garden escapes, pet dog and cat pressure, increase in exotic birds like Indian Mynahs, Starlings etc in response to a ‘new home garden landscape’ and permanent people pressure.
Torquay needs a comprehensive and independent Impact Study so that all these claims that we believe are spurious can be refuted or verified.
When the next phase of consultation comes around (most likely next month), don’t be fooled by the out of town developers and their vested interests. Subscribe here https://engage.vic.gov.au/distinctive-areas-and-landscapes-program/surf-coast to be notified by state government when consultation starts and make sure you have your say. ... See more
