NEW plans have been drawn up for a controversial house on a small parcel of riverfront land in Port Fairy.
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Property owner John Mugavin has revealed the new-look design as he prepares to take his fight over the house to the state’s top planning authority. Moyne Shire Council voted in January to oppose a planning permit for the land, at 107 Gipps Street, near the foot of the Moyne River bridge.
Late last week, the council and objectors were notified that Mr Mugavin was taking the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) with revised plans.
The letter of notification includes a list of amendments aimed at addressing the concerns of objectors to the original proposal, including reducing the footprint and the height of the building.
The length of the building fronting Gipps Street has been reduced to 19.95 metres and the height to a maximum of nine metres. A central double garage has been removed from the design and, instead, a circular driveway will provide access to a covered parking area at the front of the house.
The line of remnant saltmarsh has also been clearly identified on the plans and will be delineated by a post and wire fence, with no structure or new landscape works to be carried out in that area.
In originally refusing the permit, the council said the land was in a farming zone, was flood prone and sat at a major entrance to Port Fairy.
The VCAT hearing will be held on August 14 with any objections to be lodged by July 28. The amended plans for the proposed development will be workshopped by Moyne Shire councillors prior to the objection deadline.
Councillors are expected to direct council planning staff to put forward a submission to the VCAT hearing re-enforcing the decision they made in January.
The issue has stirred plenty of public interest with more than 60 objections to the January permit application.