The concern merry-go-rounds and ferris wheels could follow the construction of a chairlift in Jindera did not ground the idea, with eight out of nine councillors giving it the green light.
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Aaron Van Werkhoven’s development application for a private-use chairlift on a lot in Glenholm Estate was approved with 26 conditions applied at Wednesday night’s Greater Hume Council meeting.
Denise Osborne was the only councillor to vote against the application, citing a range of concerns including fire risk, that were raised in objections from neighbours.
“I do see it as a rather large imposition on if not the, one of the most prestigious estates we have in Greater Hume Shire,” she said.
“When you paid for a block, to think you were going to have a view of a chairlift – nobody could ever dream that one up.
“What if the next person wants a ferris wheel? I might suddenly decide I want a merry-go-round in my front yard.”
Cr Kim Stewart disagreed it would set a trend and said a number of residential activities, like riding a quad bike, would make more noise than a chairlift.
“Do I have to get permission to put a water slide in my front lawn? No – but the kids would make a lot of noise,” she said.
“Somebody wanting to build a chairlift with a whole lot of conditions to protect others – why not, I think.”
Mr Van Werkhoven told councillors the chairlift, which “would be a first of its kind” would work off a driving station powered by just 30 kilowatts, instead of the 300 required for those found at ski resorts.
“It’s quite a small drive and makes no noise – we used those drives on a project at Mulwala,” he said.
Cr Doug Meyer said he did not believe the 8.5 metre poles would look much different from power lines when looking into the distance.
“If I was going to build this and had these conditions imposed on me, I would give the game away,” he said.
“I commend the applicant on doing something different.”