Approval buys time for landowners

A NEERABUP business will be allowed to temporarily operate as a transport depot and storage yard after 20 years of unpermitted use.

The City of Wanneroo issued a notice in August 1995 for an unauthorised transport depot on a rural zoned property.

A report at a council meeting earlier this month said no actions were taken and the use continued.

An investigation in May 2014 found several other unauthorised uses, including commercial vehicle parking, storage yard, outbuildings and sea containers, vehicle repairs, home business and unauthorised advertising signage.

The landowners have lodged a scheme amendment request for the additional uses.

Cr Linda Aitken moved a motion at the March council meeting to allow the uses for five years with the option to reapply for another five years.

"There have been no formal complaints from neighbours and the landowners also intend to sell in future," she said.

"A temporary approval will allow them to operate legitimately until the property is sold."

Councillors Bob Smithson and Dianne Guise spoke in support of the motion on the grounds the City had received no complaints about the business.

"It's a concern when we find we have operations within the City that don't comply with the objectives of our general rural zone," Cr Guise said.

"In this instance it's been operating for some time without complaints. The owners desire to sell and relocate to the Neerabup industrial area" for those reasons I�m prepared to support the temporary arrangements.�

The council report said the majority of the site is made up of market gardens and has been identified for future use as possible special use (tourism).