Industrial uses often involve more than demonstrating that a use is appropriate within a zone. They also require careful consideration of the surrounding land uses, environmental impacts, parking demands and referral authority requirements. For this project, we acted on behalf of our client to prepare and manage a planning permit application to Central Goldfields Shire Council for the use of land by a metal fabrication company.
Our involvement began with a pre-application meeting with Council to identify the planning requirements before lodging the application. This early consultation proved valuable in establishing a clear approval pathway. The proximity to residential land meant that referral to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) was required. Council also required an acoustic assessment be prepared to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed 24-hour operation on nearby residential properties. In addition, the application was required to be referred to both the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP).
Following the preliminary planning assessment, we coordinated the preparation of the required supporting reports, prepared the town planning submission and lodged the planning permit application on our client’s behalf. We also provided a detailed planning justification for the proposed reduction in on-site car parking, demonstrating that the anticipated parking demand could be accommodated without creating adverse impacts on the surrounding road network. The application was successfully approved by Central Goldfields Shire Council. This project demonstrates the value of undertaking early planning investigations and engaging with Council before lodgement, particularly where multiple referral authorities and technical assessments form part of the planning approval process.
