By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
A PARKING technicality has allowed Cardinia Shire councillors to refuse a planning permit for a shop that would have sold guns just metres from a popular Pakenham play centre.
At Monday night’s meeting of the town planning committee, councillors discussed whether or not to approve a permit for a business selling hunting apparel, including guns and ammunition.
Controversially, the proposed location was at 7/99 Bald Hill Road – three doors down from Croc’s Play Centre.
But unlike venues that sell alcohol or house gaming machines, the Cardinia Shire Planning Scheme does not require a planning permit for the sale of guns.
Instead, councillors refused the permit on the grounds that there was insufficient parking for the retailer to operate at that site.
While restricted retail premises are required to have a minimum of 17 car spaces, the property has only been allocated nine.
Cr George Blenkhorn, who put his full support behind approving the permit, said the shortfall would not have been an issue due to the large online portion of the business.
“This is an unusual business for Pakenham, or Cardinia, because 60 per cent of the business is internet retailing,” he said.
“The goods are ordered via the internet, packed or parcelled up and shipped out to customers by mail, so the retail portion is 40 per cent or less.”
The Bald Hill Road industrial development registers a total of 177 parking spaces for 10 factories – two of which are not currently being leased.
Cr Blenkhorn added that Victoria Police had lodged no objection to the application, that the guns and ammunition would be kept in a fireproof safe, and that heavy restrictions would mean minimal advertising. From his own observations, he told councillors that only 47 per cent of spots were occupied at the busiest time of the week.
However Cr Collin Ross said he could not sanction the permit due to its proximity to the play centre.
“To approve this is to approve a premises selling guns and ammunition in Cardinia Shire,” he said.
“If you were to allow this you could almost allow any business to line up next to any business. It makes no sense.”
He told councillors that there were “more appropriate areas” for the shop, and that he was not concerned about stifling economic growth in Cardinia.
“I couldn’t care if there was a thousand jobs at risk, if it’s parked right next to these facilities I would be opposing it.
“I just find it absolutely amazing that someone would put up an application that would be so out of kilter with the area where they’re actually putting it, right next to these facilities.”
The permit was also strongly opposed by Cr Kate Lempriere, who raised the fact that approving the store would be irresponsible as Cardinia Shire is “practically the worst” area in Victoria for domestic violence.
The final speaker was Cr David Young, who reminded councillors that the planning scheme required that the issue be judged only on parking availability.
“As I’ve stated, the only issue that we can assess this on tonight is the parking spaces and as I’ve stated I’ve inspected this area a number of times and there always seems to be plenty of parking within the vicinity of this facility,” he said.
When put to a vote, Councillors George Blenkhorn, David Young and Brett Owen voted to grant the permit and Councillors Leticia Wilmot, Tania Baxter, Collin Ross, Kate Lempriere and Jodie Owen voted to refuse. Cr Graeme Moore was absent.
At its March meeting, the town planning committee will vote on whether to allow a firearm retailer and indoor shooting range business to open in Pakenham. The application has been submitted by Southern Cross Firearms.
