Third time was not lucky for Xhelil Memedi, who had applied to Moorabool council to develop a nine-lot housing subdivision at Darley.
An application for the 305 Ross Street subdivision first went to council on October 8, 2009, and a permit was issued on January 13, 2010 to another developer.
At the time, the condition was that development start by January 13, 2012, and be finished within two years.
An initial extension of time, for two years, was granted on March 2012, and a second extension, for a year, was granted in January last year.
But Cr John Spain last week led a move to refuse any further extension of the permit, now held by Mr Memedi.
“The application is for a third extension of time and, since the permit was issued on 13 January, 2010, no works have commenced,” Cr Spain said.
“The proposed development is not in keeping with the emerging character of the precinct. [And] the proposal would detrimentally affect nearby residential amenity.”
But Cr Pat Toohey disagreed, asking fellow councillors to extend the time limit again, warning the issue could end up at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
“The responsibility we have is to be conscious of where we spend ratepayers’ dollars. This would be wasted energy for our planning department and of resources to defend something VCAT would approve,” Cr Toohey said.
Councillors Spain, Tonia Dudzik, David Edwards and Allan Comrie voted to refuse a permit extension, while councillors Toohey, Sullivan and Tatchell supported it.
