Surf Coast Shire has engaged an expert witness to help present Council’s position on a proposed Bunnings store in Torquay’s West Coast Business Park during a VCAT hearing later this year.

Following significant community interest, Council rejected the proposal to build a Bunnings store in the Business Park in the business park, at the gateway to Torquay and the Great Ocean Road, in August 2010. 

Bunnings subsequently appealed the decision to VCAT, with a hearing scheduled for December.

Council has hired Roz Hansen of Hansen Partnerships, the firm which helped develop the planning framework for the West Coast Business Park, to help present Council’s case at the VCAT hearing.

Council has also adjusted one of the grounds for refusing the application, confirming that the proposal “constitutes a more retail based use than an industrial use or service business, and accordingly is contrary to the purpose of the Industrial 3 Zone and the relevant Planning Policy Framework".

Council also refused the application on building design grounds, signage grounds and the impact of the proposal on Torquay’s northern entrance.

Mayor, Cr Libby Coker, said it was important Council defended its position in the strongest possible way at the upcoming VCAT hearing.

“Given the strong community interest in Bunnings’ proposal and Council’s decision to reject the application, Council certainly owes it to the community to defend our decision in the strongest possible way,” Cr Coker said.

“The initial intent of the Industrial 3 Zoning in the West Coast Business Park was not to bring retail business to the area.  This is a point we will be making strongly at VCAT, with the assistance of a well-qualified planning expert who was involved in developing the planning policy for the West Coast Business Park.”

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