Opponents to the controversial Buninyong sky barrel project have said they still plan to contest the proposed construction - despite late amendments filed by the developer.
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David Penman, the owner who bought the land on the foothills of Mount Buninyong last year, suggested a series of possible changes via his lawyers.
They come a short time ahead of a scheduled Victorian Administrative Appeals Tribunal (VCAT) hearing for the sky barrels scheme, which are slated for 67 Yendon Number 2 Road.
The original plan included designs for five one-bedroom sky barrels, with four of the five measuring 10-metres high. Another higher one was projected at 16-metres off the ground on the steeply sloping land overlooking the Moorabool Shire.
There is also a single storey villa earmarked for the development.
Mr Penman's suggested design changes included replacing the proposed 16-metre-high sky barrel with a 10-metre structure in the same mould as the others.
In correspondence from the developers' lawyers Maddocks, seen by The Courier, the amended plans suggest reducing light spill by tinting the northern windows.
Other proposed changes include lowering the maximum building height of the barrels with a "modest site cut" at the north end of the constructions. This would "sensitively site the buildings in the landscape while reducing overall heights", lawyers argue.
Several objectors have confirmed the changes put forward would not change their resolve to contest the plans.
As reported in March, one of the barrels has already been built on the site. Owners of land measuring more than four hectares within a Rural Living Zone are allowed to build one residence without building approval.
The original planning permit application received 57 objections, with five people submitting in favour of the project.
Councillors voted unanimously in February to oppose the project at the VCAT hearing.
Council officers had recommended refusing the application, saying it failed to "to respect the valued areas of rural character". A planning officer report also suggested there was not enough information to assess whether the site would have an adequate effluent management system, nor was there enough detail to assess whether CFA requirements would be met.
Under the original proposal the barrels were put forward as a high-end accommodation offering, which the developer said would attract tourists willing to pay up to $1,000 a night.
The Courier understands Mr Penman has lined up five expert witnesses to support his application.
The developer originally took Ballarat City Council to VCAT for failure to respond to the planning application within the statutory time frame.
The Courier approached Mr Penman, who also runs the Clifftop at Hepburn accommodation, for comment but he did not respond.
The four-day VCAT hearing is scheduled from May 17 to 20 next week.
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