Approval for house on horse property

The operators of a racehorse rehabilitation and breeding business at Longwarry will be allowed to develop a house on their property.

Blair Tourk and Janice Bryant told Baw Baw Shire Council they needed to live on the property where they operated a specialised racehorse rehabilitation and boutique breeding business.

The business will be undertaken on a 5.2 hectare property in McHugh Rd.

The application was recommended for refusal by planners who argued it would lead to the loss of agricultural land for residential purposes. Planners said the farm management plan was inadequate.

However, the applicants outlined their business to councillors, justifying the need for a house to enable them to oversee the operation.

Ms Bryant said it was a welfare issue for them needing to live onsite.

“We have high value racehorses on our property and our daily routines require two treatments twice a day.

Ms Bryant said the breeding animals were valuable and they could not leave mares to foal down on their own

Mr Tourk said the horses on their property were in a state of rehabilitation so they needed a high level of supervision. “It is not possible to have this operation without a house,” he said.

They told council they had operated their business for 15 years, previously on a 20 hectare property at Iona but had sold that to downsize and were currently renting land at Officer.

As well as the house, other infrastructure on the property will include a round yard, stables, water tanks, agricultural shed and horse shelter in each of the six paddocks.

There were two objectors who raised concerns about the proliferation of houses in a farming zone; extent of flooding on the site and impact of flooding on surrounding areas; lack of a biosecurity plan; and, the agricultural use was not substantial enough to justify a house.

Sharon and Thomas Jordan made submissions calling on councillors to refuse the application.

Ms Jordan said the subject land was unusable over winter because of flooding. She said development of farmland in Longwarry had altered the flow of water, which had impacted her business, Longwarry-Koo wee rup Rd and Evans Rd.

Ms Jordan said the Water Act 1989 stated “you should not put water on neighbour’s land.”

“My paddocks are being left with silt, possible photosensitivity spores and other disease. I have quarantine status for export,” she said.

Mr Jordan said subdivisions of large farms were a scourge that “like a cancer is taking over our fertile farming lands.”

He said while purchasers set out to follow their dreams, once those dreams fail, the community was left with lifestyle properties.

“We owe it to our next generations to enjoy the fruits of our times and protect our farming communities for the wellbeing of the generations to come,” he said.

In recommending the application be approved Cr Tricia Jones said the business had been operating successfully in another shire.

Cr Jones said the applicants had done their due diligence. “This business is successful and has stood the test of time.”

“This property will only be used for ad hoc grazing unless a successful business can locate there. It’s not possible to run a business of this nature without a dwelling.

Cr Peter Kostos said none of the neighbouring property owners wanted to buy the land when it was for sale.

While noting objectors’ concerns about flooding, the applicant had outlined a plan to divert water rather than adding to drainage issues.

Cr Darren Wallace said a successful business coming from Cardinia Shire to Baw Baw should be encouraged.

“This will turn a low value grazing property into a high value horse husbandry business,” he said.

Cr Keith Cook opposed the application, saying “this 77 acre farm should never have been allowed to be subdivided.”

“Any rain in this area results in flooding of these lots,” he said.