No issue with carwash application

By Kath Gannaway
YARRA Ranges Council has advised that, contrary to its initial advice to the Mail, the need to restart the advertising process for a planning application for a carwash on the corner of St Leonard’s Road and Walker’s Lane in Healesville was due to a mistake in its advertising process, not “an error in the application” as reported in the Mail.
The developer contacted the Mail following the story saying he believed it had painted him in a bad light.
“At no time did any part of our application mislead the council or mislead the general public,” he said.
Director Planning, Building and Health Andrew Paxton moved last week to clarify the information, saying the error was related to the information contained in the preamble – a paragraph that states specifically what an applicant is applying for.
“We made a mistake in the advertising part of the planning application process, and we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused,” Mr Paxton said.
There was also clarification on the number of letters sent out with Tracey Varley, executive officer communications saying 17 landowners/ occupiers had been notified in the initial process.
Mr Paxton said while the initial preamble and the 17 letters sent to landowners/ occupiers stated clearly that the application was for a carwash, it did not state that a planning permit was required for both the development and use of the land, including details about any proposed illuminated signage.
He said the plans made available to the public for viewing did show the proposed signage.
Mr Paxton said the preamble had been corrected and now read: “Use and development of a carwash and associated illuminated business identification signage”.
Mr Paxton said council had written to the same 17 landowners/occupiers and that two signs were now displayed clearly advertising the application – one on St Leonard’s Road and another at the front of the site on Walker’s Lane.
The application can be viewed at the Healesville Community Link.