Council & Business
29 September, 2022
Majorca planning application approved
A planning application for a single dwelling and shed in Majorca has been approved by the Central Goldfields Shire Council with 27 conditions, despite receiving two objections. At Tuesday’s ordinary council meeting, councillors moved to approve...
A planning application for a single dwelling and shed in Majorca has been approved by the Central Goldfields Shire Council with 27 conditions, despite receiving two objections.
At Tuesday’s ordinary council meeting, councillors moved to approve the application regarding the land known and described as 19 William Street, Majorca after it was lodged almost 12 months ago.
According to the report tabled to council at the meeting, the subject site is approximately 2.3 hectares in size and falls within a farming zone overlay.
The proposed single-storey, two bedroom dwelling will be almost 180 m2 in gross floor area, with the shed to be four by 10 metres in diameter.
The application was referred to Goulburn-Murray Water and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for consideration, with both providing conditional consent.
According to the report tabled to council, notice of the application was given to the owners and occupiers of adjoining and surrounding land via letters and in the mail, with the application receiving two objections.
The report states these objections raised concerns around the impacts on native vegetation, the impact a septic tank may have and the land not having access to potable water or electricity among others.
Introducing the motion to approve the application, councillor Wayne Sproull thanked the objectors for their input, but noted the application was a good use of the subject site.
“Under the new planning decision guidelines that were adopted by council last month, this application would not have come to council but due to the timing of the implementation of that policy change it has come to council for a decision,” he said.
“One of the advantages of the updated planning decision guide-lines is the use of a voluntary mediation process, which encourages open communication between parties.
“The application had two objectors and I want to thank them for presenting their concerns to council, however I believe the planning department has responded to those concerns appropriately and note all the relevant authorities have supported this application.
“We want to take advantage of population growth and fulfil people’s desires to move away from the rat race, yet we know properties are scarce.
“I feel this is a good use of the property and the applicant will be respectful of the environment around them when developing the land. I am happy to support the officer’s recommendations.”
Seconding the motion, councillor Liesbeth Long said it was an appropriate use for the land.
“Planning issues are never easy when they come before council and this one was no different,” she said.
“As a primary producer, gave this application a lot of consideration because agricultural land is a finite resource and productive farmland must be protected and therefore caution must be displayed when alternate uses are proposed on farming land.
“I believe that in this instance, the land is well suited to a rural residential dwelling which would not be out of place in the landscape because the surrounding area has already been developed in a rural residential manner.
“In fact, most lots surrounding the property consist of small, fragmented landholdings with little agricultural activity and most already contain dwellings.”