Council counters confusion at Ansons

• Ansons Bay, Tasmania.

By Tony Scott,
October 06, 2021

The Break O’Day Council has moved to head off community concerns about a planning change for a property at Ansons Bay.

Mayor Mick Tucker said a letter from a surveying firm seemed to have initiated some confusion among neighbours of the 40-hectare property involved.

He said the confusion was heightened by posts on social media.

“This is not a subdivision application and does not see the removal of any environmental safeguards on the property. 

“All it is is a sealed plan amendment, not a development application and it won’t affect the use of the property under the Planning Scheme.”

The letter proposed amending a sealed plan of the property, which contains restrictive covenants. 

The covenants were established when the property was originally subdivided in 1977 and amount to a private agreement between owners of the blocks concerned.

The amendments propose to remove bans on excavations, conducting a business, advertising signs of building a house worth less than $3500.

Mr Tucker said all these conditions would be covered in the planning scheme anyway.

It’s also proposed to remove the right of a carriage way, which has become irrelevant since the construction of Acacia Drive.

“If any of the changes were to come to council as a development application, as the Planning Authority we would be required to ensure the planning scheme was being satisfied. 

“The restrictive covenants, don’t replace the requirements of the Planning Scheme. 

“Any further developments on this property will have to address the requirements of the Planning Scheme like any other.” 

The council had received the application to amend the sealed plan in accordance with the Local Government Act. 

Affected property owners were formally notified by East Coast Surveying and only those people could support or oppose the amendment by making a formal representation. 

These representations will be considered before any decision is made by Council.