Mansfield Shire Council has approved a $4 million development at 151 Monkey Gully Road, allowing 21 warehouses, a 22-lot subdivision, and the removal of native vegetation.

Bayside Town Planning, the applicant, intends on developing the 1.58 hectare block for 21 warehouses, a 22 lot subdivision, removal and destruction of native vegetation, and reduction of car parking.

The plot, which holds three old mill houses and a vacant paddock, is currently zoned industrially and came before council due to the high estimated cost of the development ($4m) and the removal of native vegetation.

Paul Truong, a representative speaking for the owner of the land, urged council to approve the application and pointed to the fact that the applicant has remained collaborative and open to suggestions from council throughout the years long approval process.

“This application's been in council for a couple years now,” he said.

“We've worked with council and all the referral authorities and we have made a lot of changes in order to satisfy everyone.

“You can see from the officer report that we have finally had a favorable report in relation to the proposal."

As council deliberated the matter, they first questioned exactly what defines a warehouse before questions were raised over the suitability of the application.

Cr Bonnie Clark questioned the value of a public open space contribution of land rather than a monetary payment towards council’s public open space fund when the land is nestled amongst industrially zoned blocks.

Cr James Tehan noted the proximity of the proposed site of the 21-warehouse development to a residential development, questioning what impact it might have on residents.

Council’s responsible officer told councillors that warehouses are not deemed to have adverse amenity impact potential because of how warehouses are defined and that further than that the proposed warehouses are to be built in line with the threshold distances set out in council’s planning scheme.

As council voted in favour of granting a planning permit, Cr Tehan told his colleagues that the application ticked all the boxes where the planning scheme is concerned.

“There’s no reasonable grounds to not pass this development,” he said.

“It could be an interesting development up there.

“The land is zoned for industrial use and there’s obviously a need for warehouses.”