Shire knocks back three-storey proposal in Anglesea

THE Surf Coast Shire has knocked back a planning application to redevelop the Anglesea Motor Inn into a three-storey apartment building, despite a last-ditch bid by the proponents to defer the decision.

Councillors agreed with the officers’ recommendation to refuse the planning permit for several reasons, and also expressed concern that delaying the matter any longer may risk a hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

The council considered the application for 109 Great Ocean Road in Anglesea at their meeting last week.

The 21-apartment application received 34 objections during the exhibition period, and the proponents made a number of amendments as a result.

Despite this, officers recommended the proposal be refused on several grounds, such as “the height and scale of the proposed building is not respectful of the low scale coastal village character of Anglesea” and “the design response does not provide for landscaping which is complementary to the coastal bushland character of the area”.

Speaking during question time ahead of the application being discussed, applicant representative Kirsten Kilpatrick from NovoPlanning said Select Architects had “attempted to address some of the concerns raised by the objectors” and asked for a deferral.

“We request that we continue to work with Council and the community to achieve an improved outcome for the site.”

In response to a question from Cr Clive Goldsworthy, shire general manager of environment and development Ransce Salan said deferral meant the application could be referred to VCAT for failing to be determined within 60 days, though this was not automatic.

Councillors unanimously voted to refuse the application.

“It is a prominent location, and for the officer’s recommendation, I am certainly supporting it – we don’t want Anglesea to look a little bit like the Gold Coast, we want to keep its beautiful coastal character,” Cr Libby Coker said.

Cr Margot Smith said there was “not a lot of change” on the amended application.

“I think it’s really important that we do make a decision on this now… it does actually point to the fact that we, the council, are serious about making sure that these iconic buildings that are along our coast comply with the regulations we have.”