No Gold Coast at Inverloch foreshore, they say

SOUTH Gippsland Conservation Society (SGCS) is strongly campaigning against a council approved $4.6m development at 2-4 The Esplanade, Inverloch.

The application, which was approved at the shire’s June meeting this year, is seeking to develop a four-storey mixed use building, which comprises two retail premises at ground floor level and 42 serviced apartments (a mixture of studio, one and two bedroom units) above and a bar at roof top level.  

The plans, prepared by Cornetta Partners Architects, were amended to replace the proposed rooftop bar with a café. 

Key features of the proposal included: 

• Construction of a four storey mixed use building comprising 42 apartments and three commercial tenancies. 

• The building will have a maximum height of 14.2 metres at the northern and western elevations (15.45 metres when the lift over-run is included). 

• A ground level car park 
providing 48 car parking spaces with vehicle access from The Esplanade. 

• Provision for two commercial tenancies with a floor area of 354.48 square metres at street level with undercover space in front of these tenancies to allow for activities and/or outdoor dining opportunities to ‘spill’ onto the street and park land. 

At the time of approval, the shire considered it to be ‘an acceptable outcome for the site, subject to conditional changes’. 

There had been 30 objections, however, there are now more than 60.

Speaking at the shire’s June meeting, Cr Les Larke was unsupportive and voted against the recommendation, while Cr Brett Tessari had said the application was always ‘going to divide the community’ but was ultimately “comfortable” with it.

SGCS has since launched a petition seeking 500 signatures against the application, stating the hotel would ‘totally dominate the foreshore and block our views of the parkland and the Inlet’.

SGCS has objected to VCAT and will be presenting their case during a 5-day hearing starting January 30, 2023.

“The foreshore is our “happy place”. It connects us to the Inlet and the ocean and for many it is the reason we live here or visit,” SGCS’ petition states.

“The fact that the site is being redeveloped is not contentious. The land is privately owned and has never been a part of the foreshore reserve. What is contentious is our Council’s disregard for

Inverloch’s “coastal village feel” and the manipulation of the relevant planning criteria to allow the construction of such a building immediately adjacent to The Glade and Rainbow Park!”