Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 18 May 2010
VOL 8. No 20
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au su coastt es co au
FREE WEEKL WEEKLY
Family affair
The Lalor family from Apollo Bay are a hard team to beat when it comes to longboarding. The family (from left) Oscar, 16, Caroline, Brett, Luke, 14, and Adam, 11, were all set to compete in the recent State titles before a car accident sidelined Caroline, who was still suffering the effects of whiplash. Oscar led the charge for the family, taking out the under 18 state title. See full story Page 84.
Photo: PETER MARSHALL
GOOD PLAN Surf Coast Shire successful in having West Coast Business Park overlay removed
BY NATHAN HALE THE COMMUNITY will be able to have its say on any planning applications that come before Surf Coast Shire Council in regard to the West Coast Business Park. The shire was last week given the answer it was hoping for from Planning Minster, Justin Madden, after they requested a planning amendment on planning applications within the business park. The positive response from Madden now means that any business submitting a planning application for the park must allow council to advertise the application publicly – should council wish – and that the public will be able to make submissions for or against. Prior to council requesting the amendment, any
Surf Forecast
business was able to submit a planning application without it needing to be advertised publicly. The decision – which was made in only a matter of weeks – ensures the business park applications will be open to the community and all processes will be followed as transparently as possible. Following the announcement, State Member for South Barwon, Michael Crutchfield, said the amendment was a win for the community. “On behalf of Surf Coast residents I have lobbied Minister Madden hard on this issue and attended a number of meetings with him raising their concerns,” Crutchfield said. “I am sure the Surf Coast community will welcome this decision by the Minister ensuring that they are part of the planning process. “I believe the Surf Coast community have every
right to be involved in the planning process and I encourage local residents to voice their support or concerns. “When the area was cleared for industrial use and sub-divided there was a specific planning overlay put in place to help do this. “That process was completed some time ago. “The minister has removed the now redundant overlay, which allowed for applications to be considered without requiring public notification.” Crutchfield was also quick to move to allay and fears that the Bunnings application – which has already caused much debate around Torquay – would also be subject to these new guidelines. “Closing this loophole means that Bunnings’ application must – like any prospective development – be subject to the normal planning process,” he said.
“This statutory process requires assessment periods and of course allows the community to have their say on the proposed development.” Surf Coast Shire Mayor, Libby Coker, who has worked with fellow councilors to ensure any planning applications throughout the shire are as transparent as possible, echoes Crutchfield’s thoughts. She also urged the community to take the opportunity to have its say on applications when they are open for submissions. “Council firmly believes the community must have a right to inspect and make submissions on planning applications throughout the municipality,” Coker said. “Planning applications must be dealt with in a transparent manner. They must also be seen to be dealt with in a transparent manner,” she said.
WED 2-3ft+ clean, WNW 13° THU 2-3ft+ lumpy, SSW 17° FRI 2-3ft SE easing 18° SAT 1-2ft tiny E 17°
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