By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Councillors have spoken about finding a solution to the previously ongoing disagreement between Council and kangaroo shooter Lucas Riley.
At the recent Ordinary Council Meeting, Council resolved to change the use of Mr Riley’s land so he can now operate a motor vehicle workshop and vehicle sales, and place a chiller box for kangaroo carcasses on the land.
Cr Andrew Gale stated that he’s “really happy that we’ve come up with a result that will allow Mr Riley to conduct his business better”.
“I was quite outspoken about the decision that came out from the last Council,” he said.
“Mr Riley has been very understanding and I thank him for that, given the amount of time that it’s taken to resolve this.”
Cr Gale stated that when it comes to planning matters “we have to exercise an abundance of caution”.
He believes at the end of the day, the application was conditioned appropriately.
Cr Gale stated that “the only valid objection that we had related to the water main that goes under his driveway”.
“That’s something that Council would address if that got damaged.”
He said he believes there is some misunderstanding about exactly what Mr Riley will use the facilities for, and that it won’t be as disruptive as some may think.
“I’m glad that Council has come up with a solution that’s better for him,” Cr Gale said.
He said the issue was something that “caught my eye and motivated me to get elected”.
“I want to fix things for people like him who want to run a business.”
Cr Gale said as a businessman, he wants to help other local businessmen.
Cr Stephen Tancred stated that he agrees with the comments made by Cr Gale in last week’s meeting regards the regulation of the industry and the humane aspects of the practices.
“The submitters’ concerns are important,” he said. “But I consider people do not have the right to prevent rural industry operating in rural districts.”
“They do have the right to ask their Council to mitigate impacts, and I think the report as it stands does that.
“I agree with what the current Deputy Mayor has said in the past that ‘rural activities should be in rural areas. If we don’t put them there where do we put them?’ We have a planning scheme that allows this and if there are potential impacts on neighbours then we have a chance to, in fact we have a responsibility, to impose conditions.
“My experience over the past two and a half years is that this Council has a zest to allow things like putting bakeries in the commercially zoned areas of the main street and allow roos shooters to operate in the areas zoned rural.
“This small business has struggled with the conditions we set in the last Council,” Cr Tancred said. “This is a chance for us to fix the problem and encourage this small business.”
