THE Mount Gambier Agricultural and Horticultural Society plans to launch legal action against City Council after it rejected a proposed expansion of the showgrounds campsite.
The society originally applied for an additional 21 campsites on the land but council’s development application process deemed the proposal did not meet zoning regulations.
Society immediate past president Kerry Hill said the organisation would look to appeal the decision through the Environment, Resources and Development Court, an avenue council stated the society “has every right” to take.
“We will certainly lodge that paperwork and will go through with the process of an appeal,” Ms Hill said.
“Sadly it has come to that but when we spoke to the two council representatives on Wednesday night, they indicated there was no avenue for us to lodge a new submission.
“If we change the submission, the representatives advised us council assessment panel’s view would not change.”
Presenting its case for financial support from council at last week’s sub-committee meeting, Ms Hill explained the society would need to “obtain much more income than just what we have gained from the show” to maintain its 72-acre property.
“We are currently looking to host as many events as we can yet the rejection for the extended campground gives us a financial shortfall in our income for the year,” Ms Hill said.
“We are not quite sure why it was rejected but it has been, so we now need to explore all options as we need a certain amount of income to remain on our own two feet.”
Ms Hill said some confusion hinged on the fact the society’s grounds were never expanding, only increasing the amount of campsite spaces.
Speaking at last week’s meeting, interim council chief executive Graeme Maxwell said the society “may have a very good argument” regarding the existing use of campsites.
“When the development assessment panel consider an application, they consider it in terms of what is the legislation and what the rules and regulations say to them now,” Mr Maxwell said.
“They have made that decision based on circumstances that currently exist, yet that planning should play out during the appeal process.”
According to council documents, the application prejudices the delivery of objectives for the area.
“There was a discussion surrounding noise issues if the additional campsites go ahead,” Ms Hill said.
“Yet during the entire application process there were no complaints made.”
In the society’s original application it expressed to the panel its wishes for 16 powered sites and 12 non-powered sites.
“With increased toilet and shower facilities now fully operational we wish to apply for a 29-site capacity” the letter stated.
The society currently maintains eight campsites with maximum stays of 28 days.
