A BALLARAT couple who have forked out thousands of dollars for a vacant block of land on which they hope to build their dream home are still waiting for a planning permit almost a year later.
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In December last year, Rex and Trish Turner secured a month-by-month contract for 0.6 hectares of land on the corner of Clunes Road and Australasia Drive in Creswick.
The couple planned to purchase the land in its entirety once a planning permit was approved by the Hepburn Shire.
But 10 months later, despite approval from the CFA that their architectural design was in tune with the shire’s current planning scheme, their plans to build a “completely self-sufficient and sustainable” three-bedroom house remain out of reach.
They have invested more than $5000 on engineering and geological land studies for the house, which they planned to run completely on solar power and would include an adjoining onsite wastewater treatment system.
Ms Turner said their plans were being blocked by the council’s Domestic Wastewater Management Plan, which is yet to be approved by Central Highlands Water.
The plan is part of a state government planning initiative to improve public health, environmental and social outcomes for the communities in which domestic wastewater is discharged.
Ms Turner said without the plan’s approval, the council was powerless to give the couple a permit to build. “It is incredibly frustrating,” Mr Turner said.
“We thought it would take three months at the most to get a planning permit but we’ve been waiting almost a year with no end in sight.”
Mr Turner said he feared if a permit was not approved soon, they would lose the contract for the land.
Hepburn mayor Don Henderson said the council had submitted the draft plan to CHW in June.
He said CHW’s delay in approving the plan was stifling development in the shire and that the Turners’ predicament was only the “tip of the iceberg”.
“There are residents who ... can’t sell their land because it is subject to planning permits. There are others who have land but can’t build on it because this waste management plan has not been approved,” Cr Henderson said.
CHW community engagement manager Jamie McDonald told The Courier that CHW had requested the council make improvements to elements of the plan before its approval.
Mr McDonald said the council had indicated it would investigate the changes requested and CHW would respond once the council provided an updated draft plan.
But Cr Henderson said to his knowledge the council had still not been informed about the specific changes CHW was requesting.
Mr Turner said he was establishing a resident action group of people in similar situations to lobby the state government, CHW and the council.
To contact Mr Turner, call 0419 886 640.
melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au