Mayor urges approval after construction

By Sarah Schwager
A CONTROVERSIAL planning permit for a Warneet shop has been approved despite council officers’ recommendation to refuse approval for the works.
Casey mayor Colin Butler stood up at last week’s planning committee meeting and urged council to approve a permit for works already undertaken and the sale of food at Warneet Boat Hire through an alternative motion.
The permit related to an application by the boat hire facility’s owner John Newham to legitimise works that had been undertaken to the existing deck and to display advertising and sell tea, coffee and light refreshments.
However, council officers had earlier recommended the permit be rejected because it did not meet planning requirements.
Mr Newham had already installed decking, a kitchen and advertising sign at the shop.
Neighbouring shop Warneet Bait and Tackle owner Granger Barnett was furious at the permit being approved.
“For Cr Butler to push this permit through against his own council is just disgraceful,” he said.
He said other businesses around the Boat Hire were furious and the Warneet Milk Bar had sought legal advice.
On top of the speed in which the application made its way through council despite community concerns, Mr Barnett was concerned decking around the shop was unstable and unsafe with large gaps.
Warneet Bait and Tackle, which hires boats and sells bait and tackle, was issued a permit in April last year to allow the development of a ticket booth and bait and tackle outlet after months of delays and postponing.
“Why was my matter deferred so many times, then this one approved over the heads of council’s town planners?” Mr Barnett said.
Cr Butler said the Rutherford Parade property did not need a planning permit as it was for ancillary use.
He said the Department of Sustainability and the Environment (DSE), which manages the Crown land on which the boat hire facility is located, had allowed it to sell food.
However, he said after a complaint against the building’s sign, council officers had found works undertaken needed planning approval.
“Technically, the officers didn’t agree and it was safer for them to refuse the permit,” he said.
Cr Butler said councillors had agreed with him and voted to grant the permit.
He said the signage would still be decreased to no more than three squared metres as in the original recommendation but the deck was approved. The shop will also be able to sell food and drink.
Deputy mayor Kevin Bradford, however, said he supported the original recommendation as he had concerns about aspects of the application and the floating ramp.
“It looks incredibly dangerous,” Cr Bradford said.