By Victoria Stone-Meadows
A PLANNING application that was rejected by City of Casey Council on 12 July 2016 will be considered by VCAT this month after the applicant amended their plans.
South East Land Corp Pty Ltd have amended their application to build a concrete batching plant and landscape garden supplies store on Bullarto Road in Clyde adjacent to the new Belmond housing estate.
When the application was first considered by Casey Council, there were 30 objections to the proposal that cited reasons such as amenity disruption, health concerns and interference with future land development.
The land the proposed batching plant is set for has been zoned as Urban Growth, and planning permits must take future developments into consideration.
City of Casey manager of Statutory Planning and Building Services Duncan Turner confirmed that council continue to oppose the application despite the amendments.
“There were many amenity concerns and the need to protect future strategic planning opportunity,” Mr Turner said.
The Council Report from July this year that outlines the reasons for rejecting the application includes potential conflict with the future development of the Casey Fields South Precinct Structure Plan.
There are concerns from council that allowing the application for an industrial development would interfere with future residential and community development plans in that part of Clyde.
Properties surrounding the proposed batching site also raised many concerns about how an industrial site would impact on residents’ comfort and health.
Surrounding properties listed concerns such as traffic, exposure to dust and chemicals, proximity to houses, and decrease in property prices.
South East Land Corp Pty Ltd has lodged an amendment application and a review of council’s decision with VCAT in the hope it will be overturned.
The applicants have also amended their plans to address 14 of the concerns the council and community submitted during the planning application process.
Objectors and supporters of the development have until 7 November to submit a statement to VCAT before official proceedings begin.
The matter will be heard by VCAT over four days on 28, 29 30 November and 1 December before results of VCAT decision will be known.
