Hepburn Shire Council has recently taken action against landowners breaching planning regulations and related permits.

Mayor, Cr Tony Clark, said that Council will take action to ensure compliance with regulations and permits wherever possible.

“Pushing proceedings this far is rare in town planning but Council is committed to ensuring residents comply with regulations and business is carried out in a way that does not unreasonably impact the community, Shire’s landscapes and way of life.”

Some land owners are continuing to breach the Shire’s regulations by storing many more wrecked vehicles on their land than allowed. The Council has taken action in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to order compliance. Failure to comply with VCAT orders is a serious breach of the law with significant consequences.

There are also landowners who illegally remove vegetation from their land. Penalties for non compliance with regulations governing vegetation clearance are significant. Some landowners are now facing penalties of up to $70,000 for non compliance.

“Everyone has a responsibility to be considerate and respectful, while most property owners do the right thing, Council will act on its enforcement obligations where it determines there has been a breach to protect our community and our Shire. While Council would like more, we have a small allocation of resources aimed at planning compliance and if a breach is discovered, officers will take action,” said Cr Clark.

Council’s website provides information on how to report a suspected breach as well as more information about enforcement processes.

This article is based on information from the Hepburn Shire website.