Pakenham Gazette - 31st May 2023

Overruled on servo time

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has overturned Cardinia Shire Council’s decision to deny an extension of time to a proposed development of a fuel station and various shops in Pakenham.

In 2017, Pakenham Property Holdings was granted a permit by the council to develop a new service station and associated stores on the northern side of a 9124sqm patch of land resting along the southern side of Princes Highway and the western side along SirThomas Drive.

Despite an initial two-year timeframe, construction has not commenced and the permit has been granted extension by the council twice.

A third extension was submitted in late 2022 and was denied by council, and the dispute was taken to aVCAT tribunal.

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Farm values on the rise

Median farmland prices across the nation shot up in 2022, increasing 21.3 per cent in South andWest Gippsland.

The region also recorded Victoria’s highest farmland price per hectare, rising to $25,265.

The spike in prices was a result of continued high agricultural commodity prices and a third consecutive year of favourable seasonal conditions, Rural Bank head of agribusiness development Andrew Smith said.

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Hassan a cut above

ham very recently.

centre of town, Hassan only opened the shop in early May, having moved to Paken-

For this week’s People in Profile feature, the Gazette sat down with Hassan to talk about his story, from fleeing Iran to arriving in Australia.

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Barrier to Costco

By Eleanor Wilson

Community excitement surrounding the opening of a Costco warehouse in Officer could turn to frustration, after it was revealed the project is in limbo due to land zoning

limitations.

It is understood plans to construct a $50m warehouse in the new Kaduna Business Park development were denied by the State Government, as the land is identified as State Signifi-

cant Industrial land and is not approved for retail use. In a statement, Cardinia Shire Council confirmed the project cannot go ahead at the intended location.

“Council is still willing to work with Costco

to try and find an alternative site to provide alternative retail options and also jobs for local people within Cardinia Shire Council,” the spokesperson said.

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