Wednesday, 31 May, 2023
pakenham.starcommunity.com.au
/PakenhamBerwickGazette
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Overruled on servo time The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has overturned Cardinia Shire Council’s decision to deny an extension of time to a proposed development of a fuel station and various shops in Pakenham. In 2017, Pakenham Property Holdings was granted a permit by the council to develop a new service station and associated stores on the northern side of a 9124sqm patch of land resting along the southern side of Princes Highway and the western side along Sir Thomas Drive. Despite an initial two-year timeframe, construction has not commenced and the permit has been granted extension by the council twice. A third extension was submitted in late 2022 and was denied by council, and the dispute was taken to a VCAT tribunal. STORY PAGE 3
Farm values on the rise
Hassan a cut above
Median farmland prices across the nation shot up in 2022, increasing 21.3 per cent in South and West Gippsland. The region also recorded Victoria’s highest farmland price per hectare, rising to $25,265. The spike in prices was a result of continued high agricultural commodity prices and a third consecutive year of favourable seasonal conditions, Rural Bank head of agribusiness development Andrew Smith said. STORY PAGE 5
A new barber shop has opened in Pakenham by local Hassan Mohammadi. Located on Treloar Lane in the centre of town, Hassan only opened the shop in early May, having moved to Paken-
Hassan Mohammadi with customer Liam. 335914
ham very recently. For this week’s People in Profile feature, the Gazette sat down with Hassan to talk about his story, from fleeing Iran to arriving in Australia. STORY PAGE 10
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Barrier to Costco Community excitement surrounding the opening of a Costco warehouse in Officer could turn to frustration, after it was revealed the project is in limbo due to land zoning
limitations. It is understood plans to construct a $50m warehouse in the new Kaduna Business Park development were denied by the State Government, as the land is identified as State Signifi-
cant Industrial land and is not approved for retail use. In a statement, Cardinia Shire Council confirmed the project cannot go ahead at the intended location. “Council is still willing to work with Costco
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to try and find an alternative site to provide alternative retail options and also jobs for local people within Cardinia Shire Council,” the spokesperson said. STORY PAGE 3
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