Councillors gave the go-ahead to a dwelling at 1464 Timboon-Peterborough Road, Peterborough and an upstairs extension to an existing house at 18 Desailly Street, Port Campbell, both subject to a number of conditions.

Both applications received objections from neighbouring residents who feared a loss of their views.

Speaking before the meeting, Peterborough landholder Elizabeth McKenzie said the development would impose on her privacy and take away her lake views.

“The rural setting, privacy and view were the reasons why we purchased the property,” she said.

However, planning officer Stephanie Durant said a proposed vegetation screening and siting the building a further 15 metres from Ms McKenzie’s boundary was considered adequate to address any amenity impact.

There were similar fears for Port Campbell objector Julie McPhee, who said an extension to the neighbouring property would block ocean views from her home.  

Ms McPhee said an angled wall, aimed at allowing both properties to share the view, created a “new issue of overlooking and loss of privacy”. Ms Mcphee had suggested sliding the extension back 600mm, but the applicant said that would leave them with no ocean view.

Councillors said under planning legislation they had little option but to support the proposals.

“I’m personally very conflicted over this. We have a structured response that we have to operate within an unfortunately we are bound by the regulations and the planning that has gone into this and again I feel that to not follow through with this would put us in an embarrassing position should the matter go any further,” Cr Wayne Oakes said of the Port Campbell development.

“I don’t really feel that we have much choice other than to support the application.”

Cr Neil Trotter said the Port Campbell development was “probably a no-win situation”.

“I took a long time to make up my mind in relation to this application and unfortunately I think this is a compromise situation and no one is going to be completely satisfied by the outcome,” he said.