By Corey Everitt
A resident’s plan to build a shed was set to be rejected by council, but has now been permitted as councillors moved against the decision of their officers.
The proposal was originally tabled for Cardinia Shire Council’s Town Planning Committee meeting on 3 September.
The resident wished to construct a shed, or outbuilding, on the property that resides on Gordon Road in Pakenham Upper.
The motion intended to refuse a permit on the grounds it did not comply with existing overlays and did not account for matters regarding conservation and bushfire management.
Beacon Hills Ward Councillor Brett Owen moved a motion to defer the decision until the next Town Planning meeting saying the matter need further investigation by councillors.
Deferring was seconded by Toomuc Ward Councillor Stephanie Davies and was passed by councillors.
In the Town Planning Committee Meeting on Monday 2 October, when the motion came up again, Cr Owen moved another alternate motion to grant it a permit.
The motion gave permission with 11 conditions regarding the issues of conservation, bushfire management and use.
Cr Owen noted that despite the importance of applying these conditions, the overall proposal received no objections from the public nor any from the CFA.
While the original conditions for land clearing were smaller, only requiring the removal of one tree rather than two.
Cr Owen said the main point of council officers was that potentially for alternative sights, however, he was not satisfied that the alternate proposals were better.
“There is a discussion of three potential sites for this building, I believe in my opinion the proposed location as per the applicant is the most appropriate,” Cr Owen said.
He said the other proposals applied extensive excavation works or was too detrimental to the visualscape of Gordon Road.
Going with the original proposal does apply significant measures on the applicant, however Cr Owen said it was the best outcome.
“Condition 2 does also require the applicant, if they want to proceed, to provide offsets or payments for the vegetation removal,” Cr Owen said.
“We see the removal of only one tree, but as a result conditions in place to obviously compensate for that removal.”
Bunyip Ward Councillor Graeme Moore seconded the motion, saying the process of deferring gave councillors better insight into the situation.
“To have another look at this to see how we could actually help this applicant, sometimes we penalise some people who haven’t got applications and do things illegally, so this is a resident who is doing the right thing by us,” Cr Moore said.
“I think the 11 conditions that are going to control this particular shed are applicable.
“I have no hesitation to support Councillor Owen’s alternative motion.”
