A DECISION on the future of the proposed saleyards at Miners Rest could be taken out of the hands of the Ballarat City Council and given to an independent planning panel appointed by the state government.
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An officers’ report to the council has recommended the council call on Planning Minister Richard Wynne to appoint a joint independent planning panel to adjudicate Regional Infrastructure’s planning application for the proposed Central Victorian Livestock Exchange.
The council will consider the report at its next meeting on Wednesday.
The report states most of the 95 submissions received in response to the planning application for the livestock exchange were opposed to the project on the grounds of: proximity to homes and the township; odour and noise; traffic, particularly relating to trucks; operational matters, including lighting and operating hours; concerns about flooding and potential water contamination; and a preference for maintaining the current saleyards site.
It concluded, as council officers were unable to resolve all the concerns submitted: “... it is recommended an independent planning panel hearing be requested.”
“This panel process will ensure independent consideration of all issues raised and council will then be in a position to consider and adopt/not adopt or vary the recommendations of the planning panel, before referring the matter to the Minister for Planning for the ultimate decision, or abandoning the process,” the report said.
Regional Infrastructure won the tender in 2009 to relocate the saleyards from its existing site to a new location.
Council officers concluded the existing site had “severe infrastructure limitations for: occupational health and safety; animal care and management; waste management; parking and traffic movement; and overall efficiency”.
gavin.mcgrath@fairfaxmedia.com.au
