The Council meeting last night was a fiasco especially when it came to the Caltex Union Road development application. Whatever the merits or otherwise of the proposed 24 hour unmanned diesel refuelling station, the process was a farce.
Caltex lodged the development application almost one year ago and have modifiied their proposal to take into account many of the issues raised by Councillors and staff but last night the process was delayed again to "seek more information". Like how many bowsers (the answer is 4 and it is in the original application) and the hours of operation (the answer is 24 and it is in the original application), etc, etc.
When Council staff indicated that Caltex could now proceed to the Land and Environment Court Caltex were accused of being bullies. Under section 105 (1) (a) of the Local Government Act 1993 "Approval is taken to be refused; If the Council has not determined the application within the period of 40 days after the application is lodged". Whatever you think, Caltex has waited approximately 300 days and is being asked to give information that is already known.
The process will now be delayed again as 3 Councillors gave notice of a motion to rescind the motion that would have approved the development. See you in court and have the cheque book out Albury City.
It seems to me that all of these questions and issues should have been asked and discussed a long time ago. Many cynics writing to the paper seem to think there must be an election coming up! I wonder why?
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