Bega Valley Shire Council is facing another potential court battle over it’s decision to knock back a development application to allow a bright red advertising sign to remain at a Pambula servo.
Councillors voted unanimously yesterday afternoon to reject the application after threats by United Petroleum to challenge any refusal for its Quondola Street heritage conservation area site.
The council’s Planning Director Emily Harrison told the meeting they had already spent a lot of ratepayers money fighting with the company after it was discovered the signed had been erected without approval.
“The applicant appealed those orders in the Land and Environment Court, which they have the right to do. We went through a conciliation conference and then the applicant withdrew the proceedings,” Ms Harrison said.
“To date that matter cost council around $90,000 to prepare for and represent through that process,” she said.
Councillor Clair Mudaliar told the meeting planning rules must be followed.
“Council staff have made a good effort to try to explore alternatives but obviously haven’t hasn’t been successful but the effort was made,”Clr Mudaliar said.
“I think that local residents and businesses are expected to obtain approvals for undertaking these sort of works and so therefore large corporations should also be held to the same standard,” she said.
Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick threats by the company to take further legal action or shut up shop didn’t go down well with him.
“Major corporate needs to recognise the community want them in town but they also have to play the game as well and the game is abide by the rules,” he said.
“They knew what the rule was when they purchased the property. If the thing had been brought in after they purchased the property I think they would have a case but in this case just to be threatened today didn’t get sit too well with me.”
He also called on Pambula residents not to take out their anger, over the legal bill, on the operator of the servo.
“The people there operating it are the nicest Indian people you could ever imagine so can I ask the community that this isn’t them this is United not the people operating the business today.
“Let’s treat them with respect. I know people are going to be upset about $90,000 being spent and I would hate to see it taken out against those operators who who currently operate it and mixing with our community really well.”
