A report to Wangaratta councillors at Tuesday’s meeting recommended Zenith Medical Centre’s planning application be refused because the proposed two-storey building would be in a residential zone on Green Street and did not meet planning requirements.

But an alternative motion from Cr Dean Rees was passed without opposition, giving the centre the go-ahead with the condition the building be set back at least two metres from the boundary.

The upgraded building will allow for multiple treatment rooms dealing with general medical needs as well as skin laser and pain laser therapies, plus extra medical practitioners.

Dr Ayo Ogunjobi from Zenith Medical Centre told councillors there was a high demand for services, with up to 50 patients on waiting lists to see a doctor.

Council development services director Barry Green argued the application was “an overdevelopment of the site”.

“There’s no additional car parking provided, therefore the residents that live in that street are going to have to put up with some car parking impact,” he said.

“It will provide services that will serve a wide geographic area, not the local community.”

Former councillor Julian Fidge said Victorian planning provisions required the council to take a broader view and look at making the city a key regional area for health and wellbeing.

“It’s not just about providing a local service for Wangaratta people, it’s also about providing a regional service,” he said.

Cr Rees successfully argued the medical centre was progressive and necessary for Wangaratta.

“Anything can change if needed and wanted enough,” he said.

“The development will reflect the image we are trying to project, this development dismantled barriers to growth and will deliver solutions to the challenges of that growth. This is proposal is here and it’s here today.”