Layne Moulds has applied to Bathurst Regional Council to build a 12 metre x 20 metre shed on his property at 14 Ironstone Avenue, angering neighbours who say a semi-trailer has no place in a residential area.

The long-running dispute was deferred by council last month pending new legal advice but was finally up for determination at Wednesday night’s July meeting.

 A number of councillors made reference to the “rural lifestyle lots” at White Rock and the impact a semi-trailer might have on the amenity of the area, but Cr Monica Morse saw it differently.

“It’s interesting that … some of the speakers tonight have said it is a ‘nice rural setting’,” Cr Morse said.

“I went and had a look [at White Rock] and I don’t think I have ever seen so many sheds.

“I then spoke to a real estate agent and asked why do people buy out there into what I considered was Shedsville … and the real estate agent advised me it was so they could have as big a shed as they could get.

“I was really surprised. It is not a lovely rural setting, it is Shedsville ... Any property out there is surrounded by sheds and this is just one more.”

Cr Jess Jennings conceded he would not want a semi-trailer parked next to his home, but believed allowing the shed to go ahead was the best option for neighbours.

“I think we’re in the unfortunate circumstance where if the question being asked was ‘do we allow a semi-trailer to park in a residential zone’, we would say no,” Cr Jennings said.

“[But] if we don’t allow the shed, I can’t see that stopping the truck turning up on the site and living either side of the house which would be more of an imposition than if we allow the shed.”

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Cr Alex Christian said he felt for other residents in the area but warned if council refused the shed the matter would likely end up in court where “the applicant has a very good chance of winning”.

Councillors voted 6-2 to approve the shed with a number of conditions, including more trees on the site to screen the shed and a 10 metre setback from the boundary to minimise the impact on neighbours.

Only councillors Bobby Bourke and Jacqui Rudge voted to refuse the development application.