Council has deferred a decision on whether to allow the establishment of a truck depot at Wallaroo, due to significant public resistance.
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The DA, which includes the establishment of the depot, erection of a storage shed and an undercovered/unfenced horse arena, was taken again to the council meeting last month, generating public appeal at the open forum.
Noreen Pigeon was one of five neighbours who spoke out in the open forum last month. She said the DA didn't help to enhance the environment and that if approved, the depot would negatively affect the Yass Valley's rural appeal.
“It is much more suited to a light industrial area,” she said. “What will happen if this area is dotted with similar industrial depots?”
Mrs Pigeon bought with her pictures of the rural area, to demonstrate the flora and Fauna that would be destroyed if there were to be development.
“If it were widened it would destroy these trees and that would be a disaster,” she continued.
David Vernon, a resident of Wallaroo for 17 years, said there were three specific problems with the DA.
He said water runoff would contaminate dams and damage wildlife, there were concerns over solid waste disposal and also with the removal of several eucalyptus trees.
“I ask why these are not being protected ... what type of message does it send? This truck depot only serves one individual," he said.
Local resident Jamie Bush spoke for the proponents saying they felt "uncomfortable" about speaking at the forum.
He stated that the owners hadn’t wished to remove the trees but that had been a recommendation by the council for the widening of the road.
“This isn't new, it's been going on for years,” Mr Bush said.
“We are talking about small time business, three trucks, two tippers and a semi.
“The proponents wanted to enjoy life in a semi rural lifestyle, plus work their earthmoving business.
“This site will have a daily restriction of the three trucks only. The road does need work - some widening and drainage work - the proponents don't deny it.”
Mr Bush told the gallery that the people objecting have merit but that "we need to find a middle point".
Ian Holcombe presented more objections and focused on the issue of truck haulage and the damage to the road.
“Trucks belong where they can be housed,” he said.
“They are noisy and dusty and no one wants to live next door to them ... trucks damage roads. They are 25 times more expensive for it to travel on a local road not a freeway.
“Spring Range Road is designed for a ten tonne limit, a single trip by a loaded truck does more damage than forty cars.”
Mr Holcombe said they could provide evidence of damage to the road and that their seven-year-old road looked ‘pretty tired’.
Councillors voted unanimously that the DA be deferred pending a further report.