By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A PETITION will urge Victoria’s planning tribunal to rule out imposing costs on a community group over its failed bid to stop development of a service station at Drysdale.
The petition, which Drysdale’s Aaron Cooper posted at change.org, says awarding costs against Drysdale Clifton Springs Community Association (DCSCA) would likely mean the end of the organisation.
The Independent reported last month that DCSCA faced “unspecified” legal costs after losing its Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) appeal against the service station, proposed for a site near Drysdale and Clifton Springs’ main roundabout.
The petition said the community opposed the proposal, with most objectors unaware the service station was planned or approved until it was too late.
“We believe that DCSCA acted with honourable intention and attempted to protect our community from this unsafe and unwelcome development with extremely limited resources.
“Should VCAT rule that DCSCA pay costs to Milemaker Petroleum, it is likely that DCSCA would be forced to cease its operation. This would be a huge loss to the community.”
The petition also said service station proponent Milemaker Petroleum now wanted compensation from State Government for loss of business from the development of a Drysdale bypass, scheduled for completion in 2020.
Mr Cooper said the situation was ridiculous.
“Not only could this community lose its voice but on top of that if Milemaker is awarded compensation then we’re forking out as taxpayers for their costs,” he said.
“They want to have their cake and eat it too. How many scalps do they want to take?
“I’d like to think that awarding costs against a community that voiced its concern isn’t the answer.”
Mr Cooper said the possibility of the bypass had been public knowledge for a long time.
“Milemaker decided to put the service station where it is. They appear to be claiming that they didn’t know about the bypass but it doesn’t take much to do research to find out.”
State Government referred the Independent to VicRoads, which had not responded when the paper went to press.
Milemaker Petroleum also failed to respond.
