Surf Coast Shire allowed construction of a helicopter hangar without a necessary permit, according to a neighbouring landowner with “secret“ emails discussing the building.
The emails from June 2016 onward show that the shire initially opposed the Freshwater Creek hangar but the construction went ahead anyway as a “farm shed“, Norm Adams said.
He supplied the emails between shire staff and a landowner to the Geelong Indy this week after councillor Heather Wellington secured them following a 10-month battle for their release.
Mr Adams said he was unaware of the permit issue until Cr Wellington asked at a council meeting in April 2018 whether the structure needed a permit.
She was told the building did not need a permit because it was a farm shed, he said.
“She raised an issue that we (residents) were unaware of.
“We assumed the property owner would have a permit. It was a surprise they didn’t.
“But now these emails show council was well aware the owner was building it as a hanger, so why doesn’t it have a permit attached to it?”
Mr Adams accused the shire of withholding information from residents when it initially refused to hand over the emails.
“They let us down as far as planning goes.
“I think that if there’s a planning issue people should be able to go to their council and ask about it.
“I hope that retrospective planning permit will be required for the structure.”
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) approved a commuter permit for the use of the helicopter but the shire had not yet “further considered“ the hangar issue, Cr Wellington said.
Clause 52.15 of the Victorian Planning Provision states that “any development (buildings and works) related to the use of land for a helicopter landing site or heliport requires a planning permit irrespective of whether the use is exempt”. The clause refers to exemptions as flying and landing helicopters for specific purposes, not for developing infrastructure to store them in or support their use.
Cr Wellington said her motivation was achieving “good planning in the public interest”.
“The reason I’ve pursued this so actively is because I felt as though there was something wrong.
“It’s about residents rights and fairness and I’m not going to back away from that.”
The shire’s environment and development general manger said council considered the permit issue “to have been concluded by the decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2018″.
VCAT is set to determine another application from Cr Wellington for another document in September.
She has declined to reveal the nature of the document.
