NEWS DESK
Shire gives nod to marquee for Hindu land ceremony Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au FIVE councillors and 99 objectors have failed to convince Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to reject a planning application to erect a temporary religious marquee on green wedge land in Pearcedale. In a close vote at last Tuesday’s (17 October) meeting, six of the 11 councillors agreed with principal planner Ersi Ni’s recommendation to allow the remedial Hindu pooja ceremony to purify the land at 1915 Hastings-Dandenong Road, where the applicants want to build the largest Hindu temple in Australia. That separate planning application is due to be heard at the Victorian
Civil and Administrative Tribunal in February. Nine objectors to the pooja attended the meeting to tell councillors their concerns ranged from traffic congestion, loss of native vegetation, inappropriate development, loss of amenity and noise. Neighbour Craig Gobbi said the granting of a permit for the pooja would “set an unacceptable” example of development on rural, green wedge land. He said he was also worried the extra traffic coming to and from the site would be hazardous on the already dangerous HastingsDandenong Road. Fiona McVey said she was concerned about the environmental impact the building would have on
the site, which she described as a “unique pocket” of native flora and fauna, and part of the Ramsar-listed Watsons Creek catchment area. “We feel that this application will have far reaching ecological ramifications for this site,” she said. Others spoke about the noise and pollution from a generator required to power the marquee, damage to the environment from heavy vehicles bringing in supplies and equipment, traffic volumes, car parking. The application is for the cleansing ceremonies to run for one week, with two worship sessions of 6am to 11am and 4pm to 8pm. There must be no more than 30 people on the site during the ceremonies There are not expected to be any
activities outside of the proposed marquee area, and no loudspeakers, microphones, music or bell ringing. Cr Kate Roper attempted to move an alternate motion to reject the application because it did not fit the strategic policy directions of the council planning scheme, was incompatible with adjoining and nearby land uses, and would create traffic and amenity issues. Cr Anthony Marsh said it would be difficult to reject the application, because a religious pooja was a “clearly permittable use” under green wedge guidelines. He said councillors should not tie the application to the separate application for a Hindu temple, which has received more than 300 objec-
tions, because they were bound by municipal rules that required them to consider the pooja application on its merits. Voting against the officer’s recommendation were councillors David Gill, Roper, Debra Mar, Steve Holland and Susan Bissinger, with councillors Despi O’Connor, Marsh, Sarah Race, Lisa Dixon, Simon Brooks and Antonella Celi in favour. The pooja application has also been listed at VCAT, where a decision will be finalised. A practice day hearing is scheduled for 10 November followed by a compulsory conference on 29 November. A merits hearing is scheduled for 15 and 16 February 2024.
Call for stronger green wedge enforcement Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au A MOOROODUC land owner living in green wedge zoning is calling for stronger enforcement of protections following the allegedly illegal development of a neighbouring property, The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council acknowledged it is looking into the alleged non-compliance of use and development of the land at a property in Males Road, but was unable to comment because the investigation is underway. Moorooduc resident Susan Bell accused the council of being a “toothless tiger” after being told by the council it was “working with” the neighbouring land owner and it could take 12 months to resolve. Bell said she believed the land owner, who purchased a green wedge zoned, one-acre block in 2017, had built or redeveloped sheds on the property without the required permission. On Sunday (15 October) he allegedly started using a spray booth in a shed on the block, venting paint fumes and potentially fine particles over her land and a natural spring less than 100 metres away. “It started on Sunday and released a horrible pungent, chemical smell – we believe the spray is contaminating the spring and the soil on our property,” she said. “We are on 10 acres that was set aside for conservation in 1962 and we want to continue to protect it and encourage wildlife, we have a
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Western Port News
lot of native vegetation and grass woodlands – all that could be under threat,” she said. Bell said she believed the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council was considering granting a retrospective permit to the land owner, which she said would make a joke of green wedge protections. “We purchased here because of the stringent regulations…but it now seems the system allows for a [potential] VCAT decision to override historical decisions,” she said. “This is green wedge; I thought the council was supposed to protect it.” Green Wedges Coalition coordinator Rosemary West OAM said the issue of inappropriate development on green wedge land was a huge problem across all councils, which don’t have the resources to go up against the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. “This is happening everywhere because of the costs of opposing it and fighting for councils, when VCAT often approves it anyway,” she said. West said the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council had the ability to step in and halt any further development of the subject land and any allegedly illegal activity until the approval matter was finalised. “But it doesn’t sound like this type of activity is compatible with green wedge regulations anyway,” she said. Action wanted: Moorooduc land owner Susan Bell, pictured with husband Peter, wants better enforcement of green wedge protections in the Mornington Peninsula Shire. Meanwhile, a willy wagtail nests above the spring less than 100 metres from the spray booth. Pictures: Gary Sissons
25 October 2023
