The application received 38 opposing and seven supporting submissions, with a number of neighbouring community members citing traffic concerns and the fact the application was put forward by a current councillor, Ned Jeffery, as grounds for objection.
Although the recommendation by council staff was to reject the application, an amendment put forward by Cr Andrea Pace was carried by five councillors, with two voting against the amendment and one councillor abstaining from the vote.
Cr Jeffery was removed from the discussion due to his conflict of interest.
Cr Pace said the intention of her amendment was to “encourage small business” and address “understandable concerns from both council officers and residents”.
The conditions include the installation of an acoustic barrier, a no left turn restriction at the exit on to Butler St, a traffic mirror for improved visibility of exiting drivers and the lowering of fencing.
“We are a town with lower socio-economic indicators and we know that employment opportunities matter deeply to our residents and families,” Cr Pace said.
“As a council, part of our focus has been to support responsible economic activity. We have often spoken about wanting to create a culture of red carpet, not red tape.
“(The amendment) does not dismiss the issues raised, rather it responds to them with practical and enforceable measures that protect residential amenity and improve safety outcomes.”
Both Cr Claudia James and Cr Nathan Clark spoke against the application and amendment.
Cr James said she was concerned about traffic management, while Cr Clark said the application’s approval could diminish public trust.
“It’s a no-win scenario for council. If we refuse, it looks like it’s personal or political, but if we approve, then it might give the impression to the community that people are doing things for their mates, and I just don’t think that’s on,” Cr Clark said.
“If this was my application, I would’ve done it at arm’s length, or I would’ve waited until I’d completed my term, or I wouldn’t have run for council.
“While I commend the applicant for trying to establish a business, it’s just in the wrong place, and it’s not able to tick enough boxes to even get close to the line.
“The significant concern from the community, we heard from many of them, is enough for me to form the opinion that I shouldn’t support Cr Pace’s alternate.”
In response to Cr Clark’s concerns, Cr Pace said she “(doesn’t) do things for mates in here”.
“I am purely here for the town of Seymour,” she said.
“A business wants to start in my town, I want to make it as easy as possible, so I help my town — that’s the end of the story.”
Cr Clark and Cr James voted against the amendment, Cr Timothy Hanson abstained from the vote and Cr Bob Cornish, Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall, Cr Riley Evans, Cr Bob Humm and Cr Pace voted in its favour.
Cr Cornish and Cr Evans both spoke in support of the amendment, with the latter saying, “we want business and we want employment in our shire”.
