Trevor Boyce, owner of Boyce Boarding Kennels, and regular client Scruffy. Mr Boyce fears an amendment that allows development within a protective buffer zone in Keysborough South will result in noise and odour complaints against his boarding kennel, and result in him having to move.By Shaun Inguanzo
A KEYSBOROUGH South boarding kennel owner fears a planning scheme amendment will indirectly force local kennels to sell up and move out.
But the City of Greater Dandenong’s town planners say the C36 amendment to the Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme contains ‘protection’ for kennel owners as development encroaches on their protective buffer zone.
Trevor Boyce from Boyce Boarding Kennels in Tyers Lane is worried that a clause, allowing development to take pace within 500 metres of the kennels, will foster a wave of complaints from new property owners – so much so that kennels will move on to other suburbs.
“As people move closer there will inevitably be problems with noise and maybe smells, which will bring on complaints,” he said.
Mr Boyce said it would cost too much to soundproof or bring his kennel business indoors to prevent complaints.
The Keysborough South area within the buffer contains two boarding kennels, an animal shelter and a poultry farm.
The C36 amendment closed for public comment last Friday after being placed on re-exhibition from 15 September.
The proponent of the document is Frank Perry and Associates, and the amendment was initially put forward in December 2003.
The amendment, if passed, will open the door to development “within 500 metres of operational dog and cat-related establishments, or closer if appropriate measures to achieve acceptable noise levels are incorporated into the development proposals to the satisfaction of the responsible authority”.
“The buffer remains in the absence of compliance with performance criteria to the satisfaction of the responsible authority,” the amendment read.
Greater Dandenong planning manager Jody Bosman rejected fears that complaints would occur and kennel owners would be forced to move.
He said a clause in the amendment “makes it clear that kennels are welcome to stay in Keysborough South for as long as they wish”.
“The re-exhibited clause 22.06 states in the vision that ‘residential development in the precinct will need to have regard to existing uses that require protection, including agricultural enterprises, dog-related uses, schools and golf courses’,” Mr Bosman said.
“And that it is policy to ‘ensure that changes of land use and development are not detrimental to the practices of established agricultural and dog related enterprises, and institutional and recreational uses such as schools, churches and golf courses’.”
The rural land, if Planning Minister Rob Hulls approves C36 amendment, will be rezoned to Residential One.
Mr Bosman said existing use rights would protect the businesses’ use of their land.
