BUNNINGS has won approval for its proposed Portland store, but not before some impassioned pleas from some of its new neighbours objecting to it.

Glenelg Shire councillors last week voted 5-1 in favour of the store, on New St near the Portland Ring Road (Henty Hwy).

That gives the $15 million development the green light to go ahead, but the big green store and signs were the subject of five objections from nearby residents.

Three of those objectors – Chris Smid, his sister Debbie Francis and Maureen Mizzi – spoke at the council meeting before councillors made their decision.

Mr Smid and Ms Francis had similar objections from their separate properties, both about 15m from the Bunnings site.

These related to a loss of privacy, amenity (lighting and noise), the view, loss of property value and flooding and drainage.

Mr Smid touched on the latter issue in particular in his submission, pointing to problems with his property and those surrounding it.

“Each year we have to resurface our driveways, our nature strips are unusable,” Mr Smid said.

While the council had dug a makeshift spoon drain which had eased some problems, these had remained, and had cost thousands of dollars to fix.

“The Bunnings site is a flood zone… the question is to council where is all this water going to disperse.

“The majority of this water is settling on the Bunnings site and where is Bunnings water going to go, out to sea? Good question.”

Mr Smid said he had also been advised by the council before buying his property that the land adjacent had been zoned residential.

Ms Francis also pointed out her brother had installed $50,000 worth of shutters on his house to deaden the noise from vehicles on the Ring Road “and he can still hear them”.

“From the first day of construction and ongoing, the development will remove any privacy we enjoy,” she said.

“Delivery and loading areas run directly parallel to our properties (and) noise will be continuous throughout the day up till 9pm.

Ms Francis asked councillors if they could imagine a Bunnings on their doorstep – “try to understand how we’re feeling”.

Ms Mizzi also raised the issue of koala habitats, given that they used the area for habitat connectivity.

“To develop this site will put them at risk of trying to reach their food trees,” she said.

“This is their home, along with a vast array of birdlife.”

Ms Mizzi also asked councillors to consider the mental health implications of living with such a big store next door “not to mention the visual monstrosity”.

“We have an absolute gem here and feel having such an eyesore on the entrance to Portland will be disinheriting and serenity lost.”

Bunnings development approvals manager Josh Trow represented the hardware giant at the meeting.

He said the development was allowed as the land was commercially zoned.

“It’s our understanding the site has been zoned for this purpose since the early 2000s,” he said.

“In terms of the economic benefits we know the proposed development represents a significant investment in the Portland community, $15 million, 50 jobs (as well as 35 during construction).”

Mr Trow said he believed there were “sufficient mitigation strategies” in the permit conditions to accommodate residents’ concerns

In its written submission responding to the objectors’ concerns, Bunnings said property values were irrelevant in planning considerations, while flooding and drainage issues existed but were “not relevant” to the application.

“The proposed Bunnings store and associated development will be required to be properly drained,” the submission says.

A professional assessment “does not identify any habitat value associated with the trees located on the site, all of which along the New St frontage were considered to be in low to very poor condition.”

Bunnings would be willing to incorporate recommendations by a suitably qualified ecologist during construction.

The permit conditions also require Bunnings not to install proposed signs on the south side, facing the houses from where objections came.

Councillors generally welcomed the project.

Karen Stephens said while planning was “not a black and white area” for the council, the zoning had been approved many years ago.

“We can’t be discretionary and keep everybody happy,” she said.

“It’s quite specific, there’s a number of conditions around the planning permit.”

“The council planned for this type of investment into the Glenelg Shire a number of years ago and the Planning Minister and state government have zoned that area accordingly.”

Chrissy Hawker said she thanked the developers and investors for “having faith in investing in our community”.

Michael Carr said “attracting an organisation such as Bunnings is no mean feat for the Glenelg Shire”.

“There are some challenges but the positives far outweigh the negatives.

“Another trade supplier that brings competition to the region can only be a good thing.”

However Gilbert Wilson voted against the application.

“While I’m probably not against Bunnings on that site I have concerns,” he said.

“The concerns are the introduction of vehicles going into New St and the Ring Road as well as the intersection of the Ring Road and New St.

“Unfortunately the work on the traffic management numbers were very light on from Bunnings.

“I don’t know why the numbers were low but there have been significant accidents in that area including rollovers by trucks on a regular basis that were not part of it.”

Cr Wilson also questioned the drainage and whether it would take “floodwater away from the neighbourhood”.

“I’m not convinced it will,” he said.

“If they put the wrong pipes in, we’ll have issues.”

He also raised the sinkholes in the wider area and “the flora and fauna will be pushed out to other areas”.

“I haven’t got enough assurances that they have done due diligence,” he said.

Cr Wilson was the only councillor to vote against the application, with Crs Stephens, Hawker, Carr, Jayden Smith and Scott Martin approving it.

Bunnings area manager Patrick Neicho told the Observer the company was pleased with the approval “but at this stage no timelines have been confirmed” for construction.

“We will continue to keep the community updated,” he said.

 “Bunnings is looking forward to becoming a key part of the Portland community and surrounding areas.

“A new store here would represent an investment of over $15 million in the region and create around 50 new team member positions that would provide employment opportunities for locals.”