Council settles planning dispute

A traffic management company in Boyanup has completed work on its property on numerous occasions in the last 13 years without approval from Capel Shire Council.

Capel shire chief executive officer Paul Sheedy said in 2003 the council became aware that SJ Roadworks in Boyanup was operating a commercial business in a rural zone, which meant it needed to make an amendment to the Development Guide Plan.

In 2014 the council was approached for an extension of the activity which included the intended development of a workshop, office, rainwater tank and toilet block.

In May 2015, the council received an application for retrospective approval for development that happened in August 2014.

This year, the council looked at the developments and gave retrospective approval.

Mr Sheedy said the process of giving retrospective approval had cost more than $1100 which could have been saved if the company came to the council before completing the work.

“We’re concerned about the level of development that has happened without planning approval and in a number of instances it’s ignorance and they have run the risk of prosecution or having to remove the buildings,” he said.

“They have caused us to do extra work and we discourage this at any level.

“We encourage people to come and ask the questions first.”

SJ Roadworks project coordinator Albert Gorman said the company had worked “extremely hard with the shire to get the place up and running and they have accepted what we have done here, even though it hasn’t been easy”.