Eve Lamb
Mount Alexander Shire Council has knocked back an application for a new service station proposed for Elphinstone amid suggestions the applicant had attempted to bribe objectors.
The proposal had drawn six formal objections on grounds relating to environmental impacts, amenity, traffic safety and net community benefit.
The applicant is seeking to build the new service station at 2355 Harmony Way on a site in the farming zone and affected by an environmental significance overlay.
The council’s planning department had recommended refusal on grounds including that it was contrary to the farming zone’s guidelines, did not meet the council’s planning scheme guidelines, and would be outside the Elphinstone township thereby detrimentally affecting the commercial viability of existing retail areas.
At Tuesday evening’s council meeting… Get the full story in today’s Mail…
