THE ongoing dispute about earthworks on a property in Bellbrae continues, with the shire formally responding to a petition urging the Surf Coast Shire to take free clay from the site \u201cin the best interests of the community\u201d.<\/p>\n
Soil and clay was being dug out to form dams at 240 Portreath Road as part of the Otway Yabbies Project, and the Surf Coast Shire agreed to truck the excess material to help build new cells at its landfill in Anglesea.<\/p>\n
Following a petition from nearby residents and an investigation into the planning conditions, the shire received legal advice and told Stephen Chara, who owns the land, to stop digging at the site, with the shire \u201cproviding advice to the owner to ensure the property is brought into compliance\u201d.<\/p>\n
A separate 55-signature petition, lodged at the shire in February, asks that the council \u201csupport the Otway Yabbies Project, which allows for removal of free clay from dam sites to be taken to the Anglesea Landfill Site for reclamation works\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the removal of clay from this site benefits the community in helping keep waste collection costs to a minimum by reducing costs to the Anglesea Landfill reclamation works, then it should be supported.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the report on the Otway Yabbies petition considered by councillors at their meeting last month, the shire requested the contractor removing soil from the site to stop \u201cuntil either approvals could be demonstrated or else an alternative source would be needed to be found\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Otway Yabbies petition may therefore be in vain, as the contractor found material at another site and the landfill works were finished midway through last year.<\/p>\n
The shire and Mr Chara are in disagreement about whether a planning permit is needed for the dams and who is responsible for completing the Otway Yabbies Project, and will argue their case before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in August.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE ongoing dispute about earthworks on a property in Bellbrae continues, with the shire formally responding to a petition urging the Surf Coast Shire to take free clay from the site \u201cin the best interests of the community\u201d. Soil and clay was being dug out to form dams at 240 Portreath Road as part of […]<\/p>\n