High-kick for council

By Nicole Williams
AFTER four months waiting on the sidelines, taekwando students at a Dandenong martial arts centre will be stepping back into the ring.
The Melbourne TaeKwando Centre moved into the Dandenong Street industrial space in April last year but the doors were closed four months ago after a routine council inspection discovered the space was being used without a permit.
Owner Toohey Choundary made the retrospective planning application, which was granted at Monday night’s council meeting.
“We’re very happy and all that counts is that the council supports me – especially for the young kids,” Mr Choundary said. “It’s been very stressful.”
More than 60 students and their parents turned up at the meeting to show their support to Mr Choundary as the application was put to the councillors.
Mr Choundary said a message someone put on Facebook spread and he did not expect so many people to turn up.
“I’ve got support and good followers, especially the kids’ parents.”
The original council assessment recommended the application be rejected but Cr Jim Memeti submitted an alternative motion to grant the permit subject to some conditions.
“It just makes sense. The concerns were about parking but it’s 500 metres from a bus stop and one kilometre from a train station,” he said. “They haven’t been operating so they (the students) are all keen to get started again.”
Mr Choundary expects the martial arts centre to re-open with a full permit before school holidays end next week.