The Great Southern Star - July 21, 2009

Page 1

Published at Leongatha for South Gippsland

36 McCartin Street, Leongatha 3953 PHONE: (03) 5662 2294, FAX: (03) 5662 4350 ACN 006 507 580 ABN 61 318 952 541 PRINT POST 336735 10006 Email - news@thestar.com.au advertising@thestar.com.au

$1.20

PAGES 16 - 21

The Great Southern

Star

INSIDE

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2009

Arsonist arrest

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PUBLISHED TUESDAY

56 PAGES

Full Colour Real Estate

Page 3

Page 25

Hall of fame Page 56

Business plan

Leongatha set for large-scale retail development By Bert van Bedaf LEONGATHA may finally get its Business 4 Zone on the South Gippsland Highway now that the land owners have made a rezoning application last month.

PACKED to the Rafters star Angus McLaren has been in Hollywood lately, checking the lie of the land for a future career move. The former Lyric Theatre actor has signed with a US-based talent agency and could join the steady stream of Aussie actors making it in tinsel town. See the full story on page 4.

Land development consultants Beveridge Williams in Leongatha submitted the application to South Gippsland Shire Council on behalf of John and Mary Patterson. The application was received on June 22, 2009, which is more than four years since the first rezoning amendment (known under C35) was considered. Amendment C35 went before an independent panel, following objections, in September 2005 and subsequently lapsed two years ago. The present application requests that a portion of the land owned by the Patterson family along the highway is rezoned from farming zone to B4Z, and along Simons Lane from farming zone to low density residential zone (LDRZ). The land the Patterson family owns has an area of 54.01ha, used for grazing. The application calls for the development of about 4.96ha of land with highway frontage for bulky goods retailing and the creation of about 16 low density residential lots fronting Simons Lane. The balance of the land is earmarked for future residential development. It would “in the short term” be retained in the farming zone, however, “the long term strategic plans for Leongatha would see it rezoned for future residential purposes,” the application reads. It is anticipated that Leongatha’s population will have grown to 6820 by 2026 and the future residential development would be “aimed predominantly at the traditional family housing market”. Leongatha Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Darryl McGannon welcomed the application. “If it (Business 4 Zone) is back on the radar, it would be great. The Chamber has always been pro-development and bulky goods showrooms

won’t be a bad thing for the town,” Mr McGannon said. “If we can entice this style of business to the town, it would be a good thing. The rationale for the developments is consistent with the strategies contained in the Leongatha Structure Plan, which was recently adopted by council. “Development adjoining Simons Lane is proposed as rural residential” and “a buffer area should be established between the residential areas and the proposed Business 4 Zone adjacent to the South Gippsland Highway”. The property on the corner of Simons Lane and the highway would also become low density residential (presently in the farming zone) as well as the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Kingdom Hall and the vacant property next door at the bottom of Simons Lane. The Jehovah’s Witnesses own the property, which features in future extension and parking plans. The overall objective of the structure plan is “to retain Leongatha as the primary urban centre, which is expected to attract future residents, requiring additional facilities and services as well as homes”. The B4Z development has been a long time in the making and the subject of a bruising round of objections and an independent panel in 2006. Continued on page 3.

Bulky goods: After more than four years of trying, Leongatha might get its bulky goods retail area along the South Gippsland Highway.


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