YETHOLME residents did not even have time to breathe a collective sigh of relief as Bathurst Regional councillors dismissed a development application for a junk yard on Eusdale Road before moving on to the next matter during Wednesday night’s meeting.
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There was no discussion on the matter as councillors raised their hands in a unanimous vote to refuse the controversial development (DA).
Before the meeting the applicant, John Ferris, addressed councillors.
With his arm in a sling, there was an audible gasp from the gallery as Mr Ferris introduced himself and said he was aware the DA was not very popular.
“I know that not many people want this business to go ahead out there,” Mr Ferris said.
“I really would like a deferral of two weeks so I can discuss with council how to rectify the issues. If this is refused then I will be lodging another application in the near future and try to rectify the problems.”
But after the council meeting, Yetholme residents agreed they would be there fighting when Mr Ferris makes another application.
“Over our collective dead bodies,” Matt Irvine, who lives next door to the proposed development on Eusdale Road, said.
“He can put in as many DAs as he likes. It is pretty clear from the report that the director (David Shaw) thinks there are far more suitable sites like the Kelso Industrial Estate that would be better for something like this. Why not approach council to set up something there?”
The DA was for a recycling yard for scrap metal and vehicle bodies on site, a report to councillors from Environmental and Planning director David Shaw said.
The report said the proposal was inconsistent with council guidelines for use of the land.
“Notwithstanding that the proposed development is permissible in the zone, the location of the site does not lend itself to being an appropriate site for a junk yard,” Mr Shaw wrote.
“The use of land for the purpose of a junk yard has the potential to provide a significant range of impacts. It is for this reason that one would typically locate a junk yard in an industrial zone or in isolated areas where the level of impacts on adjoining land is limited or mitigated or more within the expected character of the area.
“If council were to approve the proposed development on the site, it will result in undesirable and unreasonable adverse impacts on a rural area through such issues as visual impact, noise, increased heavy traffic volumes and the effect on vegetation and wildlife.”
Other impacts the junk yard would have include noise, increased heavy traffic, dangers to the Bathurst Copper Butterfly and potential pollution of nearby creeks and waterways, the report said.
