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Planning Extension to Gap Road Works

The Minister for Planning has extended the timeframe allowed for the development of a Materials Recycling Facility and Transfer Station at 116 Gap Road, Cowes.

By Bass Coast - 10th May 2012 - Back to News

Bass Coast Shire Council Planning and Environment Director, Hannah Duncan-Jones, said the applicant approached the Department of Planning and Community Development to have this timeframe extended.

"As the approval for the development was not issued until March 2011, the applicant only had 13 months to commence the development.

"This extension means the applicant now has until 17 March 2013 to start the development of the Materials Recycling Facility and Transfer Station. After this date, the approval will lapse.

This approval will expire if one of the following happens:
• The development or vegetation removal is not started within two years of the date of gazettal (17 March 2011) of Amendment C87.
• The development is not completed within six years of the date of gazettal (17 March 2011) of Amendment C87.

The control previously read:
This approval will expire if one of the following happens:
• The development or vegetation removal is not started within two years of the date of this incorporated document.
• The development is not completed within six years of the date of this incorporated document.

"The extension of time is a process administered by the Department of Planning and Community Development, and did not require Council consideration or approval, "explained Ms Duncan- Jones.

The site of the proposed Recycling Facility and Transfer Station is located on the west side of Gap Road, between Ventnor Beach Road and Back Beach Road. There was considerable community interest when this project started back in 2007 with an application to rezone the farming land.

History of the application

In April 2007, Council received an amendment proposing to rezone the 17.23 hectares of Farming Zone land to Special Use Zone.

This proposal, known as Amendment C87, included the rezoning and consideration of a permit to develop a recycling and waste transfer centre and green waste processing facility.

After exhibition of the proposal, Council received 46 community submissions. Most submissions focussed on the potential off-site amenity impacts, including noise, odour, visual appearance and increased truck and other vehicle movements.

In 2009, an Independent Panel reviewed the submissions. A key recommendation in their report was that the proposal should be allowed to proceed but without green waste composting.

The Independent Panel also recommended revising Amendment C87, to introduce another Planning Scheme provision for the land. The proposed control meant the Amendment would lapse if the site was not developed within two years of the document being included within the Bass Coast Planning Scheme.

On 21 April 2010, Council adopted Amendment C87 incorporating the changes recommended by the Independent Planning Panel, and sent it to the Minister for Planning for approval.

The approval for the development was issued in March 2011.

The applicant now has until 17 March 2013 to start work on the development.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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