By JONATHON HOWARD
AN ONGOING feud between Leyburn residents and the RSL Leyburn Sub Branch Inc, which prompted the Southern Downs Regional Council to take legal action, has taken a step closer to being resolved.
Council had commenced legal prosecution of the RSL Leyburn Sub Branch Inc in November, 2012, after allegations the museum sub-branch site, located at 8 Warwick St, was being used more as a venue for entertainment purposes.
Council records said several complaints had been lodged against the Sub Branch museum since April, 2011.
“A Development Permit was issued on 25 May, 2006, for the use of the land for a Community Use (Museum and Ancillary Meeting and Function Uses),” a council report said.
“However, the complaints received suggested that food and alcohol were being served several days a week, and in excess of what could be considered ancillary to the use of the site for a museum.”
“Council officers had various meetings and discussions with the applicant regarding the unlawful use of the site, and endeavoured to have the applicant submit an application to regularise the unlawful use.”
But members of the RSL Leyburn Sub Branch failed to submit a development application and, following two adjournments of the matter, a hearing was set down in the Warwick Magistrates’ Court for 2 May this year.
Council said on the morning of the hearing, the applicant sought to adjourn the proceedings to make a development application to regularise the use of the land.
The RSL Leyburn Sub Branch Committee has since submitted a development application with council to allow the club to serve food and alcohol on a regular basis.
Councillors were asked to consider the application and determine whether to approve it during Council’s monthly general meeting on 28 August.
The applicant has proposed the construction of a 67.5 square-metre deck at the rear of the building to replace the current outdoor area.
Five submissions were received to the application during the comment period of which two of the submissions were petitions.
One of the petitions had 27 signatories from the parishioners of St Matthew’s Church objecting to the proposal.
The other petition was in favour of the application and had 94 signatures.
Councillors voted for the development application to be referred to its Planning and Environment director for consideration before making their final decision.
