Chemical plan veto

AN APPLICATION by a Cranbourne West man to store toxic chemicals next to a school and future child care centre has been rejected by Casey Council.
Councillors on the former Casey council supported recommendations to refuse the planning permit at last week’s Planning Committee meeting.
A council report said the applicant, a spray paint booth mechanic, was using two sheds on his CranbourneFrankston Road property to keep both inert and hazardous chemicals.
It is believed the chemicals, including highly odorous paint stripper, aluminium sulphate and diesel oil, were used as part of the repair and cleaning of spray booths.
Casey manager planning Bob Baggio said council officers and Environmental Protection Authority workers inspected the site and ordered the immediate removal of some of the chemicals.
“We investigated the site after receiving a complaint from a concerned local,” he said.
“We found that there was an illegal use and storage of potentially hazardous chemicals without a permit so the applicant was seeking a permit to legitimise the use.”
Mr Baggio said the storage of the chemicals was completely inappropriate on residentially zoned land, which adjoined St Peter’s Catholic College and a future child care centre.
He said the school was concerned about the close proximity of the chemicals which had the potential to spark a fullscale emergency.
“It is considered that the proposal does not comply with the relevant requirements of the Planning Scheme.
“The proposal use is considered to be at odds with the purpose of the zone and the development plan and would have serious negative effects on the amenity of the area,” he said.
Mr Baggio said the applicant would now appeal council’s decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. “Council will not be pursuing any enforcement action until after the VCAT hearing,” he said.