CONCERNED Govan Street residents have scored a win at the 10 September Frankston Council meeting, after council voted to issue a notice of refusal to grant a planning permit to a planned licensed venue near the residential area.
Residents speaking to council about the planned venue said that “this proposal would see a dramatic noise disturbance that would spread all over the residential zone, especially after business hours. This proposal admits to admitting loud noise until midnight. Loud noise is the most offensive at night as local residents are trying to sleep”.
Paul Casey spoke on behalf of the planned venue, telling council “we are a business team with a long standing success in the Frankston and Seaford community”. Mr Casey went on to say the venue would be a “feast for mind and eyes”.
Mr Casey confirmed construction had already begun on the interior of the building despite not yet receiving a permit, which Cr Glenn Aitken pressed him on. Cr Aitken said “I understand you’ve already proceeded with works on the interior of the building”. He asked Mr Casey why he would do that “when you haven’t yet got consent”.
“Surely if you are in the process of proposing something of this nature you would be aware, you would have to know that a permit is required before you actually begin works,” Cr Aitken said.
Council then voted in favour of denying the planning permit.
“I move that with regret, taking into account the comments that were put forward by the applicants and their representative, but I also note there’s a number of aspects of this that are really hard to get over. One is that work has, in some form or another, appeared to have begun prior to consent,” Cr Aitken said.
“I have very real concerns, not only for noise impact on nearby residents late at night, but at any hour of the day. I don’t believe any residents should be unreasonably impacted by noise, from any works near their own home.
“It is the type of proposal that normally would be welcomed. But there are other aspects of this issue that have come into play that clearly cause me to move the motion and support the recommendation [to refuse the planning permit].
“It is the type of activity that needs to take place clearly away from impacting any residential occupancies.”
The motion to refuse the planning permit was carried unanimously by all attending councillors. Crs Brian Cunial, Steve Toms, and Lillian O’Connor were absent from the meeting.
