TEN landowners in a section of Bungower Rd, Moorooduc, will share their rural idyll with more than 65 dogs if the shire council approves an application from a veterinarian.
The vet is asking the council to approve plans for “Bark Avenue” boarding kennels at 281 Bungower Rd near Coolart Rd.
Stage one will have 20 “luxury” kennels and runs for large dogs and eight for small dogs. Stage two will have six kennels and runs for large dogs and 32 for medium dogs. There also will be 14 exercise yards. Other elements of the complex include a cattery, geriatric dog area, offices, vet area, storerooms and grooming room.
The 10 houses are within 500 metres of “Bark Avenue” including the home of former television producer Bob Phillips and his wife, stage and screen star Judy Banks, who present a showbiz program on the peninsula’s radio station RPP-FM.
Mr Phillips, best-known as a producer at Channel 9 for Graham Kennedy and Don Lane shows as well as Hey Hey It’s Saturday, said he and his wife were horrified when they received a letter from the shire about the plan.
“We bought this property in a quiet, rural part of Bungower Rd about 30 years ago,” he said.
“The property next door has been a pleasant horse and cattle property for more than 100 years, but it’s been bought by a vet who intends to create a giant boarding kennel complex.”
Mr Phillips said they would vigorously oppose the development and be joined by near neighbours.
He was disappointed there had been no consultation with owners of neighbouring properties.
“We’re not looking forward to the noise, especially at night and early morning.”
Mr Phillips said the entrance to the kennel was inadequate as traffic along Bungower Rd would increase markedly with the opening of the freeway and the nearby on and off ramps.
Properties near the kennel would be devalued.
He said information provided by the shire council was inadequate. There was nothing about the kennel’s operating hours, no details of signs or any proposed further development.
“Have planning regulations been varied to accommodate a commercial development of this nature in the existing green wedge zone?”
Mr Phillips claimed the previous owners of 281 Bungower Rd had been told by the shire they could not develop the property or erect other buildings on the property.
He said the area was prone to flooding and no properties had mains water or sewage.
“We had a meeting with [federal MP] Greg Hunt last Friday and he was horrified by the proposal, saying it was out of character for the area. He will write to the shire on our behalf.”
Planning approval for Bark Avenue is being handled by Keen Planning of Elsternwick and the plans have been created by Therian, a Queensland-based supplier to the pet boarding, veterinary, animal shelter and pound industry sectors in Australia and New Zealand.
The companies combined to create a veterinary clinic for the Lost Dogs’ Home in North Melbourne.
