By Corey Everitt
A new Sikh Temple in Pakenham has been rejected by councillors after they overturned a proposal to grant a permit from council officers in the latest Town Planning Meeting on Monday 4 December.
The subject site is 9ha property on 195 Dore Rd Pakenham, sitting on Green Wedge over 380 metres outside of the urban growth area zoning of the Pakenham East Precinct Structure Plan.
The development would have seen a 2900sqm building for a place of worship with 89 car spaces and 47 informal car spaces, proposed by Sikh Sewaks Australia (SSA), a Melbourne based not-for-profit organisation.
The proposed motion from Cardinia Shire Council officers was to grant a permit, however Councillor Brett Owen moved an alternative motion to refuse a permit seconded by Deputy Mayor Councillor Graeme Moore.
Cr Owen argued the proposal infringed upon agricultural and environmental protections of Green Wedge Zoning, was contrary to the rural character of the region and was incompatible with surrounding uses of the neighbouring land.
The key question was how far away this site would be from future urban zones of Pakenham East.
“I do not believe this property adjoins the urban growth corridor, there is hundreds and hundreds of metres into the Green Wedge,” Cr Owen said.
“There are several properties in between the urban growth boundary and this property, that’s the key part of the reasoning why I think council should refuse this.”
Cr Owen used the Western Port Management Plan as a precedent, this area does not apply to or have an equivalent, which directs such non-agriculture use of Green Wedge to be on an urban growth boundary.
The council officers’ original motion put 35 conditions on the permit regarding matters of vegetation and bushfire management, landscaping, construction and amenities.
The building was to be single-story with an internal courtyard, it will occupy a minority section of the north-east corner of the property, while a section of the south east corner will be developed as a worship site. Five trees will be removed for the development, while the rest of the remaining land will be largely untouched.
The site formerly held a dwelling with stables through the property, the permit document said SSA have the opportunity to resume equine activities on the property. The land would have been split into place of worship, domestic, agricultural and conservation zones.
At the time of the permit, 39 objections were submitted covering issues of land use, traffic/parking, bushfire risk, neighbourhood character and amenities.
The council officers determined the proposal and its conditions are acceptable in reference to the issue raised.
Cr Carol Ryan would speak in support of the alternate motion, while Cr Stephanie Davies and Cr Colin Ross spoke in support of granting a permit.
“This land is not solely required to be 100 percent agricultural use, the building footprint is not considered large. The site is 370 metres from the urban growth boundary,” Cr Davies said.
“The Western Green Wedge Management Plan does not apply here, it is a Metropolitan policy which doesn’t have the adjoining rule.”
Cr Tammy Radford said she was ‘conflicted’ on the matter.
“I’m conflicted because I have one of these in my backyard, it’s the Officer Sikh Temple, they’re in the Green Wedge, and is no issues,” Cr Radford said.
“I haven’t received any complaints and they have been really good at being a part of the community and contributing to the community.”
“At this point in time, I really do want to support our growing culturally diverse community and that includes providing safe places and services for all people in our community.”
The alternate motion would go to a vote and would be carried by a slight majority of 5; Cr Kaye Cameron, Cr Jeff Springfield, Cr Ryan, Cr Moore and Cr Owen.
