The petitioners, whose details appear below, draw to the attention of Surf Coast Shire Council concerns about the potential sale of Public Land (Cypress Lane road reserve and part of Reserve Number 3) associated with the proposed Cypress Lane development.

Surf Coast Shire Council has given notice to grant a permit for a 3 storey, 196 unit development in the Low density Residential Zone of Cypress Lane, Torquay. The proposal is located upon, and is reliant upon, the above mentioned public land that is owned by Council. 

Our concerns and objections include,

• The land which was donated by community members to Council should not be sold to developers for commercial gain,
• Does not follow the spirit of why this land was created by the original subdividers, ie semi self-sufficient living on large rural lots and connection to nature along Deep Creek,
• Many people use the public land for recreating, ie dog walking, bike riding, connecting with the green space and environmental values of Deep Creek,
• The community wants more green space, not less, and
• Loss of wildlife corridor and habitat for numerous species. 

The sale of the public land will pave the way forward for the development to proceed. The development is problematic for the following reasons;

• Breaches the objectives of the Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy (SPP). These objectives are binding on Council,
• At odds with the requirements of the Minimal Change area in the SPP, ie the site is to remain low density residential, continue to provide a transition between the urban and rural landscapes and is unsuitable for providing future housing growth,
• Makes a mockery of the Statement of Planning Policy which the Council endorsed in August 2022, sending a message that the Distinctive Area & Landscape process and the outcome of the SPP can be ignored,
• Does not comply with the requirements of the Low Density Residential Zone in the Planning Scheme. This is the wrong location for the proposed density and height,
• Does not fit the context of the character and amenity of the surrounding land, which is predominantly single storey dwellings on one acre lots, and
• Increased stormwater runoff into Deep Creek and associated impacts.

There isn’t much time before Councilors vote on this at their next meeting on 3rd October 2023, so please sign this petition to request Surf Coast Shire Council to vote against the public land sale.

Thank you.

More info on the GT Alliance facebook page, the Save Cypress Lane facebook page and the Council website.