The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has criticised
Hume council’s handling of a permit application for an animal boarding
facility in Oaklands Junction.
On March 25 the council approved a permit to M Hassan and others
to house 148 dogs and 43 cats at 250 Wildwood Road. There were two
objections to the proposal, including a petition with 21 signatures.
Residents who objected took the matter to VCAT, where Geoff Rundell overruled the council’s decision.
Mr Rundell said there were two issues he had to address: whether
an animal boarding facility was acceptable in a green-wedge zone; and
what impact the proposed development would have on neighbours.
In both cases, he found the applicants hadn’t provided the necessary information.
Often in such situations I can be guided by the council’s
professional officers through its internal referral system,” Mr Rundell
said. “In this case, no written assessment was provided by the council’s
health or infrastructure departments. They only recommended permit
conditions.
“I have no confidence in this scant assessment of the proposal. I
concur with the applicants for review that given the proximity of nearby
dwellings, the issue of noise, waste disposal, odour and drainage need
to be addressed as part of the permit application rather than as a
subsequent matter.”
