THE fate of Yumbah Aquaculture’s latest Dutton Way abalone farm proposal has inched closer to a decision.

Planning Panels Victoria’s Priority Projects Standing Advisory Committee is set to consider an amendment to the Glenelg Planning Scheme that would allow an abalone farm on the Yumbah-owned site at Dutton Way.

A previous proposal for an abalone farm on the site was rejected by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal just before Christmas 2020, with VCAT finding that the $60 million Yumbah Nyamat project would change the character of the Rural Living Zone.

That decision overturned a Glenelg Shire Council one in April 2019 that granted the proposal a planning permit.

Yumbah has since reworked its proposal for a facility it says will produce 500 tonnes of abalone a year – half the original plan – and has been working on trying to get it approved through making a change to the planning scheme, using a state government scheme called the Development Facilitation Program, set up to speed up the assessment of identified priority projects.

That process in turn surprised objectors to the original project, who thought they had won the battle.

They successfully sought an extension to make new submissions.

In a surprise move, given the proposal involves a change to the planning scheme, Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn is no longer considering the proposal, it being handed over to Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.

Ms Blandthorn recused herself in July from considering projects linked to her lobbyist brother John-Paul, to avoid suggestions of conflict of interest, but Mr Blandthorn told the Observer then he had no involvement with Yumbah.

Ms D’Ambrosio wrote to submitters this week outlining the process and confirming, after considering their submissions and other consultation, the Priority Projects Standing Advisory Committee would play its role.

The same committee last year heard, and rejected, the proposed Cape Bridgewater Resort, which was fast-tracked through a similar process albeit ultimately unsuccessfully.

“Please note that the DFP’s recommendation for accelerated assessment and determination does not mean that the proposal has been approved,” she wrote.

“I have not yet determined whether to prepare, adopt or approve the draft planning scheme amendment.”

The Priority Projects Standing Advisory Committee does not formally decide on the matter – it makes a recommendation to the Minister for their consideration, though there needs to be good reason for the committee’s recommendation to be overturned.

Rachael Matuschka, who successfully challenged the council decision in VCAT, said she was pleased that “things are actually moving rather than just being a waiting game”.

“It’s been quite stressful but it’s a good thing if all of us get to show our objection,” she said.

“Everybody (residents) is still against this and outraged by the whole situation.

“We’re not lessening our fight against this at all.”