A PROPOSED new home business was the subject of much discontent at a recent Leeton Shire Council meeting.
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Leeton residents Kelly and Jason Thurgate lodged a development application (DA) with council earlier this year to construct a shed at their Almond Road property that be used to service and repair motor vehicles.
Originally the couple was putting in the DA just for the shed to be used for “regular” purposes, but when asked by council if it would be used for anything else they said in a year or two it may be used to house a business operation.
Council advised them to submit the DA covering both cases, which they did.
However, residents in the Almond Road area were not impressed with the idea of having such a business close to their homes.
No doubt it will detract a prospective buyer (for our home).
- Concerned resident Maxine O'Callaghan
One of those was Maxine O’Callaghan, who addressed council on the issue, along with numerous others, at its October monthly meeting.
Mrs O’Callaghan outlined her many concerns as she was a neighbour of the Thurgates.
”We did not buy in an industrial zone,” she said. “No doubt it will detract a prospective buyer (for our home) … it will also affect house values.”
The original recommendation from council was to reject the DA.
Various councillors and staff declared an interest in the matter and were not present during the discussion and subsequent vote on the recommendation.
They were general manager Jackie Kruger, director of environmental and community services Garry Stoll and councillors Steve Dowling, George Weston and Greg O’Callaghan.
Other issues raised by residents in the area included noise pollution and an increase traffic.
Councillors discussed the issue on the night, with Emerson Doig adding to the original motion.
“I think we should support the application in principle, but defer a decision on whether or not it will be given the go ahead until an external acoustics report can be done,” he said.
The motion was eventually given the green light after councillors Doig, Michael Kidd, Tracey Morris and Paul Maytom voted in favour of the amendment. Councillors Peter Davidson and Tracey Valenzisi voted against the change in motion.
The Thurgates will now be required to have the acoustics report completed before the matter is brought back to council.
