A decision to apply a heritage overlay to a Maddingley industrial site has been met with mixed reactions from Moorabool councillors and the community.
The Farmhouse ‘Woodlands’ in Myrniong and Maddingley’s JBD Industrial Park were listed for heritage protection by the council on March 5. The sites are the last to be included in the Bacchus Marsh Heritage Study 1995.
The overlay is aimed at preventing unplanned demolition and inappropriate alterations that could affect a site’s cultural significance.
But Jo Merrylees, acting at the most recent council meeting on behalf of objector Don Calleja, said buildings at the Rowsley Station Road site were dilapidated and an old shed posed a health risk.
In January 2012, the council’s heritage study panel was advised the buildings contained “significant quantities” of asbestos and other hazardous materials and did not meet fire safety requirements.
Ms Merrylees said the overlay would stop possible investment and jobs, as the site could not be developed.
Mayor Paul Tatchell said decisions on heritage overlays were often tricky and complex. “While [the owners] can barely use the site right now, they are still able to get permits to do work,’’ he said.
But Cr David Edwards said Moorabool should aim to promote growth and limit constraints on development.
“This site isn’t a location people identify as historically significant,” he said.
“While it has value, it doesn’t warrant a heritage overlay. People don’t look at it as a place that symbolises Bacchus Marsh.”
Cr Tom Sullivan said the council had to be consistent.
“The objector said an overlay would be an impediment on the site going forward, but what about the other properties we’ve put overlays on?
‘‘One could argue they’d be suffering a disadvantage. I’m not precious either way, but we need to be consistent.”
Council’s general manager of growth and development, Satwinder Sandhu, said the decision provided greater certainty. “Heritage overlays and protections are now documented for Bacchus Marsh, and council will now turn its attention to the west of the shire.”
