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Linfox Vcat Hearing Underway

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearing to decide the proposed Linfox Property Group resort development application on Phillip Island began this week.

By Bass Coast Shire Council - 11th March 2008 - Back to News

Bass Coast Shire Council’s Planning and Environment Director, Hannah Duncan-Jones, said the hearing may run through until 20 March 2008.

"Twelve days between 3 and 20 March have been scheduled for the hearing," said Ms Duncan-Jones.

"VCAT will have to consider quite a number of coastal, environmental, design, tourism and agricultural related policies and strategies when assessing this application."

VCAT Deputy President Helen Gibson and VCAT senior panel member Margaret Baird have been appointed to convene the hearing.

"Both of these women are very experienced and extremely thorough in their investigations."

Ms Duncan-Jones confirmed that an inspection of the site took place on Thursday 28 February. 

"The site inspection was attended by the VCAT tribunal members, representatives for Linfox and all the other parties involved in the hearing," said Ms Duncan-Jones.

Ms Duncan-Jones travelled to Melbourne to attend the first two days of the hearing.

"Monday’s hearing covered preliminary administrative matters, which was then followed by an overview of the proposal by the architect of the project, Mr Karl Fender," outlined Ms Duncan-Jones.

"After that, Council’s submissions began.  Council is being represented by Mr John Cicero of Best Hooper and one of our senior planning officers is also attending the hearings.

"Our submission continued on the second day.  This involved the evidence of expert witnesses being provided on the relevant planning policies and vegetation protection and how these related to the proposed development," explained Ms Duncan-Jones.

The rest of the hearings for the week included submissions from a variety of people and organisations who had opposed the original application.

"A number of individual residents from Phillip Island spoke at the hearings," said Ms Duncan-Jones.

"There were also submissions from The National Trust, Smiths Beachcomber Association, the Phillip Island Nature Park and the Phillip Island Conseveration Society, represented by the Environment Defenders Office" said Ms Duncan Jones.

The submission from the Linfox Property Group is scheduled to begin on Tuesday 11 March, presented by Chris Canavan QC and Chris Townsend.

Background

In September 2006, Council decided not to grant a permit to Linfox Property Group to build 506 villas and a golf course on the site. 

That decision is being appealed at the Victorian Civil and Adminstrative Tribunal (VCAT) by the Linfox Property Group. 

Revised plans have been submitted to VCAT as part of the appeal.  All parties to the appeal, including Council, have received copies of the revised plans.

The revised plans have a number of changes:

·      The number of units has come down by 124, to 382 and the design of the accommodation buildings has changed.

·      The number of villages has been reduced from three to one;

·      The application now includes a convention centre, club house and spike bar.

·      Changes have also been made to the layout of the golf course, to accommodate the new design.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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