The applicant seeking to build a retirement village in the seaside town of Torquay, 97km southwest of Melbourne, has reduced its size but the protests of local residents are only getting louder.

Just over a month after more than 100 protesters gathered to oppose the $50 million Cypress Lane development, locals were given the chance to present submissions regarding the contentious proposal lodged by Sincock Planning.

There are two proposals: a planning application lodged for the Torquay project, and a proposal to sell off a parcel of Surf Coast Shire Council-owned Cypress Lane and a portion of Reserve No. 3, which would form part of the retirement living development for more than 100 retirement village units and a three-storey clubhouse.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Leigh Prosser said the low-density zone “does actually permit the retirement village”.

“There are no policies within the Surf Coast planning scheme that discourages this use at this site,” she said.

See the 22 retirement living and homes in Geelong, VIC on villages.com.au