Council
4 July, 2025
Decision deferred
CORANGAMITE Shire councillors have voted to defer making a decision on a planning permit for a month at last month’s Ordinary Meeting of Council.
The planning permit related to a property at 175 Lower Darlington Road, Duverney, which was to be resubdivided to allow for the sale of the dwelling while keeping the farmland.
Currently, the 89.67ha property consists of one 46.6ha lot – with the single dwelling, a large farm shed, a dam and road access from, Lower Cressy-Beeac Road – and one 43.05ha lot consisting of cropping land, an easement to the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, an unmade government road and some vegetation along the watercourse.
The subdivision will separate the dwelling, shed, dam and driveway on to a three hectare lot, with the remaining 86.6ha to be cropping land.
The applicant also made a written deputation to council in relation to the permit.
“The deputation seeks an alternative position other than the officer’s recommendation to approve the application with conditions to address the primary areas of concern, and that written deputation was circulated to councillors prior to the meeting,” chief executive officer David Rae said.
The decision to defer the decision on the permit went against the officer’s recommendation, which was to refuse the permit.
The motion was moved by Ruth Gstrein in light of new information which was presented to council the morning of the meeting.
“I’m going to move a motion to defer this item in light of the fact there’s some further information that has become available to councillors, but that was this morning,” Cr Gstrein said.
“I just don’t think, as councillors, we’ve had time to clarify and discuss those and to find out further information from the planning officers about what’s proposed.
“I think we should defer this for a month and bring it back to the July council meeting when we’re fully briefed.”
The motion was seconded by Cr Nick Cole and was passed unanimously.
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