Hugh Bateman has turned to the lawyers after his request to install a water pump station for the Broadview estate development was declined.
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Although the Mid-Western Regional Council did ask for a further report to be presented in the future, the submission was rejected in a group of rulings on the Deliver Program 2017/21 and the Operational Plan 2017/18 at Wednesday’s meeting.
Hugh Bateman, who presented an argument at the Council Open Day before the meeting, stormed from the room when the motion to decline the submission was passed, stating that he would “see you in court”.
He has since revealed that the legal motions have been put in place to resolve the issue, after the second stage of the development has ground to a halt due to a lack of a construction certificate.
Mr Bateman’s argument is that the council originally approved the development and now has ‘back-flipped’ on the DA.
Although Mr Bateman’s had several meetings with council staff over the past months, he was surprised to see the council’s Deliver Program and Operational Plan motion, and subsequent rejection.
“My concern is that even though we drew council’s attention, I spoke to councilors and council as a whole, there obviously was a serious concern by us that it wasn’t fair that we were losing seven blocks as a result of the lack of water, when it was originally approved according to council’s plans for the water supply,” he said.
“All we’re saying is that we got the approval, it’s now on council to help us get water there. If it means putting a small pump station in then it’s only fair.”
Council has now decided as part of their amendment that they will put a report to council, something that Mr Bateman believes is just a step in the process.
“In the mean time, extremely reluctantly, we have sought legal advice and are proceeding with whatever action we need to have what is right done,” he explained.
“We’ve spoken to a legal firm in Sydney who are conversing with Land & Environment court matters, and planning matters.
“Unfortunately, as I said, we may end up in court.”
Mr Bateman also said that the situation has made him quite concerned for the region as a whole, and that if this is the road development goes down, the area may suffer.
“I have major concerns about where we are going in this area with Mid-Western Regional Council at this time ,” he said.
“I have personally been involved with many sub-divisions in this shire and dialogue and communication has always been paramount from our point of view.
“I personally feel that they are going to drive developers away. We feel that we have been very, very badly done by.”
Broadview estate is listed on The Property Shop website as 36 lots ranging in size from 2000sqm to 2783sqm.