Chapel can’t win blessing

By Melissa Meehan
THE owners of the Little Road Chapel have another fight on their hands, despite the majority of councillors supporting their bid to have stringent conditions lifted on their property.
At Monday night’s council meeting, councillors said they had been buried by red tape, with legalilties forcing them to uphold a decision from VCAT that saw heavy conditions on the use of the Iona wedding chapel.
Councillor Ed Chatwin said it was “basically” against the law for the council to go against a VCAT decision that was quite specific in its actions – limiting opening hours and days (30 per year) the venue could be used.
“Basically this council cannot authorise a prohibited request,” he said. Councillor Graeme Legge agreed.
“I agree with my colleague with somewhat of a heavy heart,” Cr Legge said.
“There is no objection from neighbours, no real objections from the council – but still it cannot be approved.”
Councillor Stuart Halligan, who once attended the Chapel for Sunday School, said it was great to see local people wanting to keep the heritage of the property and said he hoped they could get the restrictions lifted at VCAT so they could continue as a viable business.
Owners Matthew Eno and his wife Allison said Monday night’s decision was no surprise.
“I’d been lobbying with councillors and they already indicated with me that they were not comfortable with overturning the planning department’s decision,” he said.
“The main problem was that the councillors, with no legal or town planning qualifications were buried in bureaucratic jargon and cannot be expected to fully understand the legal technicalities of the arguments of both sides.”
Mr Eno said he didn’t blame the councillors and held no hard feelings.
He said he and his wife were looking at further options, including a $307 visit to VCAT to re-hear their case.
A last-ditch effort may see the couple try to get a heritage overlay on the property – which would mean they would have less restrictions on the property, currently zoned as green wedge.