MOYNE Shire councillors have unanimously approved the construction of a house in Griffiths Street, rejecting concerns about flooding.
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Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority (GHCMA) and council officers recommended rejecting the planning permit for the five bedroom-dwelling at Lot 2, 115 Griffiths Street, which backs on to Gardens Caravan Park and is accessed through Castwood Place.
GHCMA said the proposed house was in a flood zone and posed “a high risk to the health and safety of the occupants … (increasing) the burden on emergency services … (and) the amount of flood damage to private or public assets”.
But councillors said they were comfortable with the planned elevation of the one-storey building, which will see the floor raised 1.7m above ground level – well above proposed CMA 100-year flood depths.
The owners would also have to prepare a flood response plan as a condition of the planning permit.
Cr Mick Wolfe said the site had obviously been subdivided in the past with an idea towards building a residence, and he felt the owners had satisfied GHCMA’s concerns.
“There will be bigger problems to deal with before anything happens to this place,” Cr Wolfe said.
The council received two public objections relating to the visual amenity, height and size of the proposed house, which were rejected by council officers.
“There are double storey places right behind it,” Cr Wolfe said.
“It wouldn't be an eyesore – it’s not going to be a mountain.”
Objector Rosemarie Simons addressed Tuesday night’s council meeting to reiterate her objections.
She told councillors a “more sympathetic building” set further back on the site would be a better outcome.
“This is a serious hunk of building,” Ms Simons said.
She told councillors she would prefer that the owners turn the land into a plant nursery, and said the proposed house would be too close to campers.