A NEW veterinary service is coming to Proserpine, after councillors voted to approve a Material Change of Use for an existing two-storey office building, at 52 and 56 Main Street, Proserpine.
The building, which is currently vacant, was initially the old Commonwealth Bank and then it was used by council as a temporary office, following Tropical Cyclone Debbie, which destroyed council chambers in 2017.
At the June 26 ordinary council meeting, officers recommended that councillors approve the development application for Material Change of Use, which was made by Mansfield Farming Pty Ltd.
Council officers said the premises were zoned Major Centre, and the proposed development was consistent with the purpose of the zone.
The development will provide on-site and mobile veterinary services, whilst having a maximum of three staff and two customers on-site, at any one time, except for unplanned emergency visits.
However, the proposal does not provide the required on-site parking spaces that is triggered by the Planning Scheme.
The development has a shortfall of three on-site car parking spaces, when accepting the car parking assessments provided by the applicant.
To justify the shortfall in parking, the applicant has provided a parking study that assesses the availability of parking within walking distance of the site.
“Even though there’s a shortage of car parking, it’s considered there’s enough parking and is recommended for approval,” director Neil McGaffin said.
“In accepting the parking assessment provided by the applicant, the proposal complies with the Planning Scheme and is recommended for approval, in accordance with the drawings and documents submitted, subject to reasonable and relevant conditions.”
Cr John Collins said ‘any business is good for Proserpine’.
“We had 30 to 40 council people working there after TC Debbie,” Cr Collins said, regarding the parking.
Councillors voted 6-0 to approve the development, with Cr John Finlay leaving the room due to a declared conflict of interest.
