By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council approved the change representations made in relation to an application at 43 Sugarloaf Road, Stanthorpe against the recommendation in the agenda.
The agenda item recommended that Council refuse the change representations made in relation to the application for Reconfiguration of Lot (Subdivision of 1 into 2 lots) on land at 43 Sugarloaf Road, Stanthorpe, described as Lot 10 SP151275.
The applicant had requested that the condition that kerb and channel be provided along the full frontage of proposed Lot 1, where not obstructing the vehicle crossover, be deleted.
Cr. Stephen Tancred questioned how this lot fronted the road and thus needed to do kerbing and channelling.
He said the little road put there currently has kerb and channelling, and he didn’t see how it impacted extra water.
Cr. Cameron Gow stated they had voted to remove kerbing and channelling in a previous application and for consistency, he would support an alternate motion.
There was discussion around whether the neighbouring lot could be sub-divided, with staff stating it was classed as low-density with the possibility to sub-divide.
Cr. Jo McNally moved the motion to reject the change representations and Cr. Sheryl Windle seconded this.
Cr. McNally stated that staff have taken into consideration everything.
Cr. Windle agreed, stating staff has spent enough time on this application.
The motion lapsed, as no one else voted in favour of it.
Cr. Gow put forward an alternate motion to approve the change representations.
The motion was seconded by Cr. Andrew Gale.
Cr. Tancred said he inspected the site and said the drain has been well-engineered by council staff and worked since before amalgamation.
He said there have been two significant rain events in the past year, and this system has coped.
“It’s working well,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any risk.”
Mayor Vic Pennisi endorsed what Cr. Tancred said about the design of the drain, stating it’s a complex system under the ground and water in this area is never over the top of the road.
He said the system has stood the test of time for many many years.
Cr. Windle and Cr. McNally voted against the alternate motion but it was still carried and the change representations approved.
