RESIDENTS in Long Forest are opposing the use of a historic house as a function centre for up to 200 guests and overnight accommodation.
Thirty-four residents last week met to discuss concerns about noise, overflowing rubbish bins and removal of native vegetation to make way for 60 car spaces at Boyd Baker House.
Moorabool council has received four submissions to a planning permit application, with three objecting.
The permit was lodged after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ordered the owners to accept no more bookings until a permit was issued.
Boyd Baker House is set on 14.1 hectares of bushland between Bacchus Marsh and Melton. The property includes three heritage-listed buildings.
The post-war house was sold at auction in 2006 to Peter Mitrakis.
Long Forest resident Tim Feetham said there had been issues with the site’s use in recent years.
“We’d been hearing loud music late at night – it got worse as the venue got more popular,” he said.
The council investigated complaints and found the venue was operating without an appropriate permit, inviting Mr Mitrakis to submit a planning application. An enforcement order to cease onsite activity was lodged with VCAT in May when an application was not received by the specified date. The VCAT order required that the landowners apply for a planning permit and take no bookings until it was issued.
Mr Feetham said residents of the high-risk bushfire area feared what would happen if a blaze broke out during a function. An emergency plan, prepared on behalf of Mr Mitrakis, sought to address these concerns, setting out measures to be undertaken before each bushfire danger period.
Mr Mitrakis could not be reached before the Weekly went to print.
