I totally understand opposing tourist development of the Bells area. I just wonder if anybody has thought that every year a development of sorts is erected in the carpark at Bells and stays for around 30 days and causes unknown harm to the immediate environment. Are we kinda hypocritical ?

I am happy to oppose unregulated, over the top tourist development.....but I can't seem to find a link to the planning proposal....is this someone trying to erect 3 tents....or is it a racv type development on the hill. Allow me to make an informed opinion...not react to Hype.

And of course, the expected customers would be surfers and families.
My two cents worth. Don't allow the development. There are better family beaches in town and rather push development in Torquay.

Population growth will destroy many Aussie beach towns.

Is this really some over development thats going to destroy the place? Or is it going to fit in the landscape? The proposal provided by Stu doesn't seem to be a major threat to the environment or backdrop.
The developer obviously hasn't paid off the council or got someone in there to let his proposal through. Obviously doesn't know the true function of a local council.

There is no description of size or capacity of the accommodation there. Mind-driving that road I am not sure you will see the new building or not as you sweep into the Bells car park, especially not the existing one.
Need more details before I help stop someone's dream project! Also depends if thobjection is to visual intrusion, environmental or surf crowds....cause God knows stopping one building isn't going to make mid-week Winki any less crowded than it already is!

Exceptionally good questions Wharfie, what could possibly be wrong with an eco friendly development?
Paully, population growth is a fact of life, the only cure for it is genocide, which would you prefer. Coastal towns rely on population growth to keep their building industry and economy from going into mini recessions

I agree with you Stunet, once they allow one development they really do not have the grounds to start declining developments. If they allow it the precedent is made and a court will have no trouble following it if it gets taken there.

I love the bells area driving in with the bush around you and paddocks on either side, but lets face it Torquay is now a suburb of Geelong which is almost part of Melbourne itself nowadays.

Nobody likes an eyesore such as the RACV resort in torquay but lets face it are they really protecting something pristine anymore? If the development is Quality small scale environmentally friendly accommodation it could be a positive for the area.

So what are you saying Affir? In 12 months time you'll be able to buy Bells Beach?

Surf Coast council can be a bit silly sometimes with the way they go about things, I've seen many people trying to do the right thing by the environment being told that they are not by some expert that wont even come and look at the site first hand.
That petition is a bit underhanded I reckon, asks you to sign up without giving out any real information.
I think genocide at Torquay could work, then bring in the bulldozers replant and start afresh. Will I need planning permit to do that?

Hard to get much info from this about the development in question but one thing I have noticed on yearly trips to Bells is the insane pace and scope of development in the Torquay area...From one year to the next I hardly recognise the joint.

Surely worrying about precedent is 20 years too late, the horse bolted long ago, no point shutting the gate now. The place is going gangbusters......

Any one know Fadguyas Planning success rate in D.A . applications ? pretty good i would imagine.

As a regular at Bells and Winki surf breaks, I agree with Stu this sets a precedent that can be built on over years inch by inch. If this decision is lost, it won't be too long before the land eventually gets fully developed over the next 10 -20 years. It would be a travesty for the sake of economic gain to destroy this natural environment for future generations.

People from all over the world come to see the natural beauty of our coast. The Great Ocean Road is the most popular tourist attraction in Victoria. It is economic madness to not preserve the natural beauty that attracts so many visitors. I would love to be back in the sixties when I first visited the area via the old road, that can't be but we can preserve and control how we now share this natural wonder and surrounds.

Fairly disappointed in the majority of comments here. Seems the attitude is 'who really gives a fuck' , thought if anyone had spent any time surfing here they would think this is the shittiest idea ever. Like Stu said it will set a precedent and before you know it a little mid week session with 4 or 5 other guys out at centreside will be a thing of the past . C'mon people have a crack, sign the petition at least

First of all let me preface this by saying that I am not a local (however that may be defined), but have enjoyed surfing and staying with friends that live in the bells region for a number of years. I am providing no opinion in the below, as there are already plenty of them provided above!

Stu you need to provide more context if you want an informed debate around this proposal. This kind of clicktivism can actually do more harm to the activism and democratic process, as the planning process regards arguments based on merit, not 'NIMBY' type responses that a change.org typically generates.

Te planning officer at Council has stated the following (again, I am not posting in support or against the proposal, just to provide some missing context):

"In summary, it is considered that the proposed group accommodation has a limited scale and intensity and that with its proposed locations will not be highly prominent within the viewshed of the Bells Beach surfing recreation reserve. Whilst it may have been possible to avoid all impacts on native vegetation and place the dwelling and group accommodation further from the bushfire hazard (existing native vegetation) this would have resulted in buildings that are prominent within the landscape, which is contrary to the Rural Landscape Policy (Clause 21.06). It is considered that the proposal has minimised vegetation removal to an acceptable level and is able to meet the approved measures of Clause 52.47 (Planning for bushfire) and such has balanced the impact on the environment with the amenity impacts, associated with the prominence of the proposal within the rural landscape, specifically the Bells Beach surfing recreation reserve."

The officer recommends approval. Council have voted it down, but this suggests that it will be an uphill battle at VCAT. I encourage those concerned about this development to engage a planning professional if they haven't already done so, as it will need a very well made argument to halt the progress of 'progress' itself.

Well said aldous. But your dismissal of the intentions of those attempting to preserve the real economic driver here being the rugged unspoilt landscape is way off the mark. No one should be criticized for caring. Yes professional help is needed but passion to help is to be applauded not derided.

Ahhh.....Torquay, you didn't want it, you protested vigorously but in the end you embraced McDonalds and can't get enough of it.

Bells Beach Is not on the Great Ocean Road, it starts at Eastern View.

Be nice if more info was provided . Still doesn't seem like a proposal that will ruin your view or experience of the surf or decimate endangered species or allow a floodgate of developments in the area.

Be different if he was developing a resort or caravan park there. Maybe Eco Cabins would be the go.

A big issue is really with the Victorian Planning Scheme and how changes in planning can allow inappropriate development. An applicant can tick off all the boxes for a development application - but that doesn't mean that its appropriate for that location - 'eco' or 'no eco'. The precedent this would allow through VCAT for the Bells hinterland is a big concern. Torquay itself is a prime example of inappropriate development or just really bad town planning - new subdivisions pop up like mushrooms with little or no regard to the surrounding natural environment. Spring Creek being a prime example. I've worked in the environmental assessment sector for the last 15 years and have seen very few examples of development resulting in an improved outcome in environmentally sensitive areas such as this location.

OK.....Here's the deal in a nutshell. Old mate (who is an older bloke and one of the early surfers in the area) has owned the big chunk of land that lies between Bells and Bones Rd longer than most of you have been alive. His home is roughly in the middle of the property and it's a run down heap of shit (I know cause he used to have the odd party there years ago and they were open house). He wants to convert this into 'backpacker' accom and then build himself a new smaller dwelling closer to Bells but still on his land. He's not subdividing which is obviously not permitted there and he will most likely succeed with this proposal. Oh yeah.......he's also a retired QC (that's Queens Council for those not familiar with the legal system). VCAT will be a minor hiccup for him.....

shitty idea because of the precedent it might set. keep this stuff in Torquay which has already become a nightmare and isn't far away.

Can anyone apart from Ringmaster hint on what the fuck is actually being built?

So if what Ringmaster says is what the proposal involves I cant see an issue with it. As a grom going in the Conservation event every year it was always tough finding accom and transport. This could be good for surfing and good for the environment all in the same concept.

Just take a look at what Torquay has become...

Aldous is correct, I suggest. Given the location and the people this development is targeted to, ask yourself the question - 'if housing were available in that location would you buy there ? (assuming you had the means of course)'.
I'm hearing that the redevelopments down at Lorne are very restricted due to fire ratings - maybe that will be a deterrent or does that just make more 'exclusive'.

This is not an easy decision, regardless.

Just to clarify, the proposed development is at 130 Bells Road, not 130 Bells Beach Road as depicted above.
The worrying aspect is the precedent rather than this particular development.
Torquay and surrounds have a terrible recent history with regard to property development.
It would be an awful shame for the Bells area to end up like all the other areas surrounding Torquay.

There doesn't appear to be a Bells Road...

Irrespective a Google map search shows that 130 Bells Beach Rd is a mere 108 km from Melbourne, soon to be the largest city in Australia.
I love the area as much as the next person but have since moved away and time marches on, hopefully any development is done tastefully.

To everyone mentioning precedent, this isn't exactly a consideration of the planning assessment. This goes both ways as it means areas that are already compromised by bad development can't be used as a precedent for more bad development. What is considered is the strategic intent for the area which doubtless would try to contain development in the the local centre, Torquay. Unless of course the proposal can demonstrate that it will be appropriate for the area, meeting tests around environmental, visual, land-use conflict impacts etc.

But once it goes to VCAT and the lawyers...

And the tourists staying at said accomadation can drop in to the newly opened chocolate factory, that's right I said factory, via the recently approved (VCAT) adventure park. Both nearby in bellbrae.both in a rural farming zone.both on the ocean rd. The lure of the ocean rd area is under threat. Keep that shit in torquay.. Both of these development were knocked back by council,then overruled by VCAT.. It seems if you have enough money, you can't be stopped...
I'm not against development,as we built a house on elkington rd( chocolate factory), but the area for which they were approved.wrong IMO.

Stu, I think you raise some good points. Precedent is very important in the courts and unfortunately we don't have a land and environment court in Victoria. Instead we have VCAT which deals with all sorts of civil matters on a day to day basis and has a history of bad decisions with respect to planning (think building an estate on a landfill - http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vcat-stuck-to-cranbourne-policy/story-e...). Unfortunately, councils often can't match proponents legal budget and VCAT is forced to roll over on planning matters.

I'm surprised at the lack of concern on this (in the forum at least) considering the inappropriate development at Spring Creek and the re-zoning of farmland around Torquay and beyond. Not to mention the Soviet inspired RACV resort building!

Shall a precedent be set it'll be death by a thousand cuts so this is an important decision.

I can't get my head around how much the opinions of surfers have veered towards pro development.

Some are even saying it would be good for the area !?

For Fucks sake.

Wouldn't you rather have a few less dollars in the bank and maintain that which is truly of value in the world , the natural beauty of the place ?

Got to draw a line in the sand somewhere.

As Stu says, it's a precedent.

Fucking developers.....

PS "Eco " cabins !

What are they called when they're at home ?

A cabin is a cabin.

The " Eco" is from leaving the ecology of the joint as it is .....without a fucking cabin.

Backpackers can stay in Melbourne.

Governments of all persuasions are pro-development. VCAT may be bad, but the NSW Department of Planning and Environment is no better. I'm happy to sign the petition, but don't hold out much hope. When the NSW state government, or the courts, overturn a decision by a local council to reject an application and then people complain to the local state member about over-development, the state member deflects and blames the council for wasting public funds. And no one says any more about it. Of course, the planning is usually inadequate and they never allow enough car spaces. Old mate at Bells will probably scrimp on his development expenses and the backpackers' cars will overflow into the public car park. About the only thing that stops developers is finding an endangered species in the area (golden bell frog?).

Don't know about VCAT. But in NSW the precedent argument is mostly irrelevant. Court decision is largely based on determining if the proposed development is consistent with the planning conditions of the particular site. Planning regs wHich change and have changed. Hence why precedent is a weak argument
If local council officers gave it the nod. You can be sure this development complies

If anyone's ever travelled to Chile you'll know how 'Eco-cabins' can totally the destroy an entire region. Pichilemu used to be sleepy little village with world class waves, now it's a sea of small 'eco' cabins. Torquay's already half-fucked with suburban mediocrity - keep it over the hill.

We need to keep Bells - not sell it.

I don't know the ins and out's of world surfing reserve listing, but is there anything in legislation about preserving the view or serenity of the place. Does the listing mean anything?

Cant believe every cunt is screaming precedent. VCAT decisions do not set the same precedent the supreme or high court does.

Further to that can anyone tell me how this development will hinder your enjoyment of Bells and Winki given what we do know that the development will be barely visible from the road behind the eyesore of a toilet block.

Agree with all arguments/concerns against any development in the immediate area surrounding Bells and hope the authorities can realize the true value of the place which does not need new accommodation of any sort, there's plenty of that in Torq. I'm going there tomorrow to stay till Monday and pick up my new MC stick, and am staying with friends that live not far from there, and it's always an interesting visit to the carpark at Bells, plenty of people and those double decker tourist buses that clog up the carpark, that's enough in my opinion for the place.

what started out as a fair and reasonable debate has now denigrated into something a bit ludicrous and abusive. Reckon I might disperse now, you guys are getting out of hand.

I'm not from there, never surfed there ( have surfed nearby areas)..

I'm interested how becoming a surfing reserve as pushed by various interests would, has, can, will, or should stop -development issues??

Bells Beach surfing 'recreation' reserve appears to have several pieces of legislation that include, but not restricted to the Victorian Heritage Register VHRH203; The Coastal Management Act 1995; The Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984; and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Management plans include both the Victorian Coastal Strategy 2008 and Coastal Management Act 1995.

How many acts do you need? is seeking status as a surfing reserve making these places more on the map for developers? if you really want to protect these areas shouldnt interests focus their attention on strengthening the multiple pieces listed above rather than trying to gather more attention (more diverted money) for more plaques...

it just bothers me on few levels. 1. surfers (should) hate other people, particularly others surfers- so why stick up a sign saying SURF HERE!! 2. surfers have created or at least are in some way responsible for the fuckery that exists in many surfing meccas. 3. creating more legislation arguably diverts, and in the case of creating surfing reserve is COMPETING with the money and attention from existing acts and other equally if not more important and comprehensive causes that various interests could be paying attention to..

I never realised private owned land was so close to the reserve/wave.

Really not enough information to have an opinion either way.

Yes id be against it if it was a three story place that accommodated one hundred people and stood out like dogs balls in the landscape, but if it is a low key development for example, single story and generally hidden from the road and accommodates a sensible number of people, then i can't see the harm.

Maybe it should of not been sold to him in the first place guys...
Its his land now....

yes its his land , so he should be able to do what he wants with it. I think a multistory resort hotel would have great views , and if it was 5 star , we could even start to get rid of those who's income is not up to paying for accommodation , and the resort owners might be able to legislate , that their clients have priority in the waves , because they pay more , and should even have exclusive days of usage!

Get popular local identity surfing or otherwise and get media to do story. Main emphasis on untouched environment important for people to relax contemplate etc especially with torquay geelong and Melbourne close by. Local council probably signed up to agenda 21 agreement which has emphasis on protecting inter generational equity. Politicians ripe to score any wins at moment and ABC or the Project or even Sir Derryn could bury it before it takes off cause make no mistake, if one gets up more will follow.

Don't want the development but the surfing "community's" anti tourism attitude is wearing a bit thin. Tourism buses and accommodation face an almighty backlash, but when surfers use and abuse the Bells Beach reserve, there's silence.
A couple of weeks ago Jeep came in to film a commercial on a packed Sunday. They buzzed the line up in a low flying helicopter for ages and then flipped the local rescue boat. Any complaints? Not a bloody whimper. Same too with the comp whose infrastructure just gets bigger and bigger? Anybody pulling up the commercial arm of surfing for their impact on the reserve? Crickets.

17000 farrrrrk I remember when I first went there the population was 2200. What has happened to Torquay is horrendous. Now a soul less mass of poor planning and obscene developments. Lets try to protect what's left. This land has has a real beauty and spiritual feel to me. Does any one know if the local Wautherong people habituated the hills behind Bells or used it for any spiritual /ceremonial activities?

17000 farrrrrk I remember when I first went there the population was 2200. What has happened to Torquay is horrendous. Now a soul less mass of poor planning and obscene developments. Lets try to protect what's left. This land has has a real beauty and spiritual feel to me. Does any one know if the local Wautherong people habituated the hills behind Bells or used it for any spiritual /ceremonial activities?

There are other accommodation options in them there hills , just not the property directly opposite Bells. There was a backpackers somewhere out the back there, so this place isn't setting a precedent. I can't believe how many people will blindly sign this petition that gives absolutely no details, it just say's "believe me it's bad, sign here".

Last time I surfed bells there was a lot of digging going on at the entrance, I spoke to a long time local he said they were building a roadhouse on the corner with bus parking with a McDonalds incorporated in it, it got council approval because it saves them money for a toilet block at Winki. This guy was a really really long time local so he new what was going on, he had the good oil.

Spot on re comments on Torquay planning. What a shambles. Souless suburbia for as far as the eye can see and a car clogged central commercial area with no views despite being on the coast. It takes a very special talent to fuck it up so badly.
The long term "locals" can't really complain (but they do big time). Who builds the new houses? the real estate mob aren't out of towners, and who bloody sells these people boards and wetsuits? That's right, the biggest whingers in the line up are the ones making the $$$ from rampant over development and commercialisation of the surf industry.
Give me a 5 minute local who spends plenty of time in the water and never drops in over the angry "long term local" mob who surf 6 times a year and think they own the surf.
Rant over.

So the staunch local goes on a global jaunt - Hawaii, Indo, Europe , California.

The return home confirms what he already knew .... that he is one of the luckiest people in the world to be surfing in clear, clean water with a pristine backdrop in more locations than not.

And you think he is going to foresake this because some parts of the coast are on the road to ruin and a few dollars are being made in the process ?

Maybe you should get out a bit more if you think that an untrammelled coastline isn't going to be valued at an exponentially increasing premium in the coming years.

That's if your stupid enough to require a dollar sign put on things to appreciate their worth in the first place of course.

Good call Tarzan.

People travel in aeroplanes.

May as well bitumise the rest of the planet then.

"Anger as Bells Beach resort gets green light".

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/news-story/f0ce94d809577d1e7c8...

What is the point of councils putting up notices asking for the publics opinion when they the decision is already made. Its the most futile thing and such bullshit. Happens heaps here at home in numerous scenrios, building approvals, speed limit reductions.

Happening further west too at a place i like to spend a bit of time at, the locals where gearing up for a protest against a resort being built that will have 'no enviromental impact.' Yet there gonna plonk right in the middle of a nice big resever where roo's, foxes, frogs etc all are abundent. I was there last friday and enquired how the protest went and while there was protest the resort still got apporval, the only positive way they looked at it there might not be construction for another couple of years. Its a beautiful part of the world there and how this gets the pass with whole town dissaproval is beyond.

What can the little people ever do?

To Quote" Toe to Toe " .....
" Build it up or tear it down ? TEAR IT DOWN !!!!!!!!! "
" What can you do when the minority is you ............. "
I'm not sure where parks Victoria or DNRE is on this , but Victoria should change its Number plate slogan to " On the Take " !
As for where you speak of Nick . I know one local surfer that is trying to become mayor or high in the local council . Again VCAT is the weak link in any local opposition . Again there was a precedent with so called Eco development .And in this case it's one guy that is pushing his development barrow , as he has a history of doing it in the area . In this case I hope Mother Nature gives Em hell and we have another wet winter on the back of a wet summer and another 15 mths . Maybe the workers will die of footrot .
Same thing is happening in all the major cities , as many first and second generation citizens decide that Australia really should assimilate to all the errors of over development Fron their homeland . Astro Turf for a garden anyone !
Wharfy we know where you sit in this .

Some people have principals...some people have money... rarely do the two ever combine in the one person. It's clearly a cash-grab and the government has been happy to accommodate on top of all the (cash) land-tax, captial gains and stamp-duty taxes they also make...nothing to see here but progress. Happening everywhere fella's, even the 'protected' locations are copping there fair-share of human impacts via increased tourism, mining, fishing, land-clearing and the 'ol climate change thief. ;-) C'est la vie.

The most prominent house at Bells is always rented by teams or pros at Easter and a farmer ferries them to the site on his quad bike. Anyone against that ? There are also other homes for rent on airBnB and Stayz. This planned development is very modest - renovating a existing property and the building a new home for themselves on 85 odd hectares. That's hardly massive development. Maybe Surfrider or other concerned should pool there money, buy the land and put a nature covenant on it. Now if anyone is serious about the Bells natural environment let's start with moving the car park to the other side of the road, revegitate and return the cliff top to a natural state with careful walkways to access the breaks. Make people walk to through a tranquil setting to surf these great waves - surely that would be a better goal than worrying about a small house on a private property in the surrounding area. Oh and how about stop shitting and pissing in the bushes folks.

As long as it doesn't start lookin like jeffries...fark thet would be to ekse! Thets rart ey?

Bloody premium article Ben......got another link? Or can someone cut and paste.

are there plans online for the development?

I understand the nervousness here particularly given it was only a few years ago someone wanted to put in new ugly viewing platforms and toilets on the Bells cliff tops for the bus loads of tourists who spend their 15 minutes there on the way to the GOR and beyond.

I also agree people should stop shitting in the bushes and walking all over the vegetation but equally the local council could do a lot more to improve and maintain what is already there.

Having said all that a trip to the south island of NZ will show you how development can be done properly in pristine wilderness areas. But the question is rightfully asked here can our developers and governments be trusted to do the right thing? History says probably not and hence the appeals for this development.

I'm pretty certain Bali was once given the air-brush, swish pictures of beautiful houses treatment by the developers...but some years later, it is a reality that sets in, which must be managed. ( I think the EAt Pray Love book was the nail in the coffin there too) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/destinations/my-honeymoon-in-...

I understand you cannot stop change (progress) but I'd say the surf industry itself is at a serious turning point now. Protecting their primary assets (pristine surf) while looking after the environment the locations rely upon..but still supporting the growing number of grommet-punters salivating for that Stoke being promoted...all driven by (generally) the dollar bills baby... One that now makes a looooootta cash, which people take notice of. http://fortune.com/2013/06/05/surfonomics-101

I feel for the locals whom get a bum deal (usually) when the developers move in and proclaim like the chameleons they are, that this development will be different. The third world has been lifted out of poverty I agree as a result of worldwide surf-travel / beach-vibed Westerners seeking out that 'secret' location that only you, your mate and soon to be 10,000 others will be chasing after. When you're that stoked on a location, it's indescribable right?? Indo-dreaming, Fiji-fantasies..etc

But the overall message is, if the use isn't respectfully contained, the Rubbish & wasteful use will continue. He doesn't give a rats?? Why would I? (You're principals are tested as such)

I'm unsurprised by the new-notion now arising of 'last chance' tourism to destinations like The Barrier Reef, Maldives, regions of Brazil, Thailand, Artic-Antartic...where the idea is actually driven on the fact that these places will eventually be not the same as they once were...so get in quick.

I think also, the irony in the surfing world is, you cannot surf a place, keep it a secret and at the same time, name it, put it in surf videos and promote it on doco's or now GoPro-YouTube/Vimeo flicks. I see Endless Summer II or the Bra Boys doco as good examples of this...the famed locations take-on a life of their own...drawing in the punters.

It is what it is. 30-50 years from now it'll prolly be worse and everyone here in there mid-20s early teens will be thinking...man, I used to think it was bad then...but I guess that old dude I was once surfin' with that day was kinda right, it prolly was better when he was a kid...just as it was good for me..years ago.

As a side note to Floydd, was surfing last summer around Vicco, was watching the waves with an 'old dude', whom said he'd come from New Zealand's South Island to live along this coastline cos the place was changing too much for him to handle & he just had to leave it with the memories he had. Took up road-trppin' in Oz before pulling up in Victoria & retiring with a girl he'd met.

I guess what I'm saying is...just try to enjoy the planet, places, people...while the moment exists, and for where it takes you. A fleeting thing. If you hanker over the past all the time...it'll just eat you up inside. Yeah hindsight is great..so also is all the times that could potentially be. Hopefully, things won't be too bad & we can learn from those whom did things incorrectly.

Again...ce la vie....or as one of my mates usually says to me after a rant like this... Cue the Cat Stevens!!!

https://m.

To expect that places, development, behaviour and attitude to stay the same is both selfish and naive. In this case the surf spot is not changing unless Mother Nature has other ideas.

If they don't build this, my surf couch won't have anywhere to stay at Easter and I'll have to surf with no one watching me rip.

check out Bells Beach Surf Sanctuary page , full story , its all about a precedent being set by giving a commercial permit for Tourist Accommodation in an area that till now , tourist development has been banned, so it's not the size , but it opens up the door for all of the rst of the developers and when you understand there is already a $1b+ urban development about 2K's from Bells , Spring Creek , and now....just more rape and pillage!

im not for or against this just want to point out some stuff to get off my chest…in point form:)

-if you won 40million in lotto you properly wouldn't have change if you bought this property -maby the owners don't want to sell to the chinese and need income…so we should be grateful for that
-the surf coast hwy from gellong to torquay will all be houses left to right in the next 30 years these new urban developments are just the beginning
-the builders are such big firms and get there materials so cheep that less than %5 of tradesmen working on these developments are locals working in there own town. they can't compete with the cheep quotation for the work.
-majority of council members in torquay don't live in torquay full time…they may be the ones who have let torquay become what it is today….shit load of houses with no infrastructure and little employment opportunities
-im like everyone else i can remember surfing with my mates and 4 other blokes out thats not the case now its only going to get worse i don't like you have to surf after work weekends is just brain damage…myself i have learnt how to wavesail (windsurf) and also how to kite surf….i think you have to think outside the box to get waves these days
-mini rant over.

Fuck it's Torquay , who cares? Tourist surfers worrying about more tourist surfers being able to stay there.

as others have said, from geelong to torquay is going to be wall to wall suburbia within about a decade.. warralilly, spring creek, armstrong creek.. etc.. the lineups at bells and winki still aren't anything as crowded as some locations in NSW, but they will become gridlocked over time. It's been relatively quite for a long time down here due to the 1.5 hr drive from melbourne.. but more and more people can't afford melbourne houses and are moving this way

The change in Torquay and surrounding burbs in the last few years alone is staggering.
Lived in Torquay in 2012
Was horrified at the reckless nature of development back then.
I'm in Torquay tonight visiting some cobbers. It's too far gone people. The change in the 3 years ive been gone is just seriously fuckin crazy. The chump factor has gone off the Richter scale.
Paradise lost for the old locals.It's gone its over. The character that it had has vanished into a never ending burb of shit looking metriconshoe box's that will be leaking and rotting in no time .
Fuck you surf coasts shire
Wankers

As far as developments and design goes, you cant get anymore tasteful than that height is low and you would imagine it would blend into the environment pretty good, where the building are set is also non intrusive.

That said i understand the concern people have for future developments and concern this is only the start.

Bells and Winki are very special places especially in the early morning light during the cooler months.

In the water with sets rolling in and the low sun reflecting bright off those beautiful orange cliffs everything is as it should be.