Cypress Lane development: Surf Coast Shire council approve planning permit following ‘unprecedented’ outcome

Community advocates could continue to fight the development of Cypress Lane, after the Surf Coast Shire Council approved plans in an “unprecedented” outcome on Tuesday night.

Despite fierce community backlash, a planning application for a retirement village in Torquay has been approved by council. Picture: Mark Wilson

Surf Coast councillors have approved a controversial planning application for a retirement village in Torquay after an “unprecedented” outcome, as a community group says it will continue to fight the proposal.

Plans for a $50m development in Cypress Lane caused fierce backlash, with many residents arguing the project would be a “disaster” for the environment and did not fit with the low density surroundings.

At a council meeting on August 22, with councillor Kate Gazzard in apology, the vote was split 4-4.

Mayor Liz Pattison said it was an “unprecedented outcome”, meaning she had to make a second vote, which she used to approve the permit.

The proposed development at Cypress Lane. Picture: planning documents

“I feel that it is important that as a leader in the community, I make evidence-based decisions,” Ms Pattison said.

“I know that there will be some in the community that will be personally disappointed … I invite you to understand that I make this decision balancing the needs of the community and the environment and the context of the limitations of our planning scheme.”

The development will include a total of 196 independent living units comprising 120 detached single storey independent living units and three apartment buildings comprising 76 apartments.

There will also be a club house, which could be up to three storeys high, with a swimming pool, gym, sauna, library and salon, as well as 355 carparking spaces.

Mark Mathews, a spokesman for the Save Cypress Lane group, said the split-vote had been a surprise.

“Obviously the campaigning that we’ve done... had some impact,” he said.

Mr Mathews said the group would seek advice on how to move forward, and would investigate whether to go to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribual (VCAT).

“It gives us motivation to keep going hard on this... it’s not a done deal yet,” he said.

The shire council must still vote on whether to sell off a the land council-owned Cypress Lane Reserve and a portion of Reserve No. 3 leading to Deep Creek, which would be part of the development.

Council declared its intent to sell the land in February, but will vote on it at a future meeting.

Councillor Libby Stapleton said while she appreciated a retirement village wasn’t to everyone’s liking, it was important to provide a range of housing choices, particularly given modelling showed the number of people aged 65 and above in the area was expected to double in the next 15 years.

Councillor Gary Allen said the proposal would increase the supply and mix of housing in Torquay, and there were no “defendable grounds” for refusing the application.

Councillor Heather Wellington said it was “incomprehensible” that the development could be considered appropriate.

“Of course we need more accommodation for people who are getting older … it doesn’t mean we just drop it in a rural residential zone,” she said.

Originally published as Cypress Lane development: Surf Coast Shire council approve planning permit following ‘unprecedented’ outcome