scone.com.auReport Bulldozes Application
A damning report by Council’s own independent assessor has advised “consent must not be granted” for the demolition of the Gold Digger’s Arms and the development of an industrial shed by MacCallum Inglis.
The report outlined seven criteria of assessment and on all seven counts recommended refusal.
The first finding was the development described as a ‘warehouse or distribution centre’ was therefore industrial use and prohibited on commercially zoned land.
It detailed the current operation of the adjoining storage shed noting “goods are regularly stored within designated parking and loading areas and on the public roadway. Loading and unloading of goods regularly occurs on the adjoining public roadways and footpath.”
The truck movements are described as “unsafe” for both pedestrians and road users and because the storage facility is for “bulk rural merchandise will not serve the needs of people who live in, work in and visit the local area” instead it will be used to service people located in more remote rural areas.
It was deemed inappropriate to have an industrial operation situated in a retail area with high pedestrian use.
Michael Burke from MacCallum Inglis said the report is a recommendation to Council and they will be continuing their development application with minor amendments.
“The planning consultant we have used has said it falls within a commercial use and retail use and we will continue to progress the application,” said Mr Burke.
“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into our application including traffic surveys and heritage architects to give us the best possible advice we can and improve the existing MacCallum operations.
“We will be looking to alleviate traffic and parking concerns in Main Street and improve our precinct of Main street on a wholesale level,” Michael Burke said.
Heritage considerations
The assessor noted glaring gaps in the heritage report provided by MacCallum Inglis including not knowing the date of the building they propose to demolish, not outlining previous use of the building and failing to address the five standard criteria of assessment used by the Office of Environment and Heritage.
By virtue of the fact that the building is formally listed as of heritage significance it would need to be proved that the building should not be on the list before it could be deemed insignificant and demolished.
It further evidences the building could return to its earlier state and does not meet the criteria for demolition due to being beyond repair.
It recommends if demolition does occur that it only be parts of the building which are after 1954 and the rest left intact.
The other criteria for assessment which were deemed not met by the applicant included contravening a conservation area, insufficient access, not being in the public interest and unacceptable impacts on adjoining public roadways.
Council’s development and environmental services committee were due to meet today to consider the application, but the meeting has been postponed.
MacCallum Inglis will supply further documentation to support their development application including how their proposal is permissible in a commercial zone.
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