March 20, 2013
A developer who had lost a permit to build six units at 41-43 Wickham Street, Nanango, after seven years of inaction won a reprieve from the South Burnett Regional Council today.
The SBRC overturned a decision it made last month to refuse a two-year extension to the Develoment Approval after the property owner presented evidence it had begun work on the project.
EHA Developments first gained a Development Approval from the former Nanango Shire Council in November 2006.
But at last month’s meeting, Council was told the reason the company had given for requesting a two-year extension was difficulty finding finance to proceed with construction.
Councillors thought this wasn’t sufficient reason after such a long period of inaction and refused the request.
However, this month EHA produced documentation which showed the company had signed a building contract on October 31 last year before the development permit expired, and that plumbing work had recently commenced.
The company also produced other documentation showing that BSA Construction Insurance and Long Service Leave payments had been made; and that it had a Building Approval (Private Certifier) still current until December 2013, which was capable of being extended for a further two years by the Building Certifier if needed.
Speaking in support of the decision, Cr Barry Green said if councillors had known these things at last month’s meeting they wouldn’t have had any objection to granting the two-year extension.
“However we didn’t know about these things, and neither did Council’s staff, because the owner didn’t include this information with their request.”
Cr Cheryl Dalton noted some applicants didn’t seem to realise that when they asked the council to grant a Development Application extension, they had to provide this type of information when they lodged the request.
“We should make the public more aware of this,” she said.
- Related article: Council Newsbriefs
