By BRIDGET COOK
CASEY councillors were divided over whether to approve a planning permit for a church in an industrial area in Hallam, fearing they could set two organisations up for a battle.
At the Casey planning meeting this month, councillors voted six-to-five to refuse a planning permit for a church on Hallam South Road, Hallam, and later voted to rescind the decision.
The councillors went against the council officer’s recommendation to grant the planning permit after much discussion.
Councillor Wayne Smith raised concerns about the church being located in an industrial area, where heavy machinery was operated on weekends which could disturb church services.
At last week’s general council meeting, Cr Sam Aziz moved to rescind the decision to refuse the planning permit and said if they did, it would set a dangerous precedence.
“I see no reason to depart from the officer’s recommendation,” he said.
“It was not a just outcome to overturn the officer’s recommendation.
“The last thing we want is a lengthy VCAT process where were get the same outcome we started with.”
Cr Smith said his opinion that the council should not approve the planning permit still remained.
“My concerns are still about noise,” he said.
“We are talking about the use of a church facility in industrial area.
Cr Smith said a nearby business operates heavy machinery on weekends, something they do so to not affect anyone else in the area.
“This is incompatible with a church next door,” he said.
“We are setting up two organisations for a battle.
“I won’t appreciate calls from the church complaining about noise.
“The noise coming out of the factory is apparently quite horrific, but they have been able to operate on weekends to not affect anyone given it’s in an industrial area.
“We are setting both of them up for a battle where someone will lose and that’s not fair.”
However Cr Aziz said if the business operators were complying with EPA noise restrictions then they shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
“The occupants of this site need to comply with EPA noise regulations,” he said.
“If they are complying, then there’s no need to worry.
“It is the church’s choice to go into that site with that knowledge.”
Cr Aziz said it was up to the council to asses planning application purely on planning matters.
“We can’t pre-empt that they might complain about noise, so therefore not grant approval,” he said.
“That’s not a valid planning reason… and sets a dangerous precedence.”
Cr Aziz received support from councillors Mick Morland, Rosalie Crestani, Gary Rowe, Amanda Stapledon and Geoff Ablett for his motion.
The council will now issue a notice of decision to grant a planning permit for the church.
