Kerrie residents have warned a proposal for four short-stay accommodation ‘tiny homes’ could create big problems if approved at 131 Shannons Lane.
Provider ‘Shacky’ has plans for group accommodation at the 35.38 hectare site but nearby residents have alerted council to road and safety risks.
Resident Helen Franklin said Shannons Lane was a single-carriage, dirt road that was “impassable most of the year”.
“It’s a road that is 4WD access only at the best of times,” she said.
The site is located within the Rural Conservation Zone, and the surrounding area has a rural character with larger allotments used for varying forms of agriculture.
Ms Franklin said the area had poor phone reception and she was frequently called on to assist drivers who had become trapped.
“I’m not really up for that happening more frequently than it already does as the result of these tiny homes,” she said.
Plans show access to the group accommodation would be provided via a new crossover from Shannons Lane with carparking located closer to the site entrance about 250 metres from the group accommodation.
Living opposite the applicant’s property, Andrew Chambers confirmed the road was “unable to withstand additional traffic”.
“If you are driving along Shannons Lane, and another car approaches, it is necessary to reverse one car into a driveway in order for one of the cars to pass,” he said.
“The proposal will obviously create additional traffic, together with noise and dust from guests entering and leaving the accommodation.”
Objectors were concerned about travellers using the accommodation not understanding the fire dangers, and insufficient access and emergency evacuations.
“It’s an extremely dangerous place to live and you might say – why do any of us live here?” resident David Skewes said.
Objectors also raised concern about loss of amenity, inconsistency with neighbourhood character, and impact to local wildlife. There was a total of seven objectors to the application. The council is expected to make a decision on the application at a future meeting.
