An Indian dance school in Tarneit has had its application to build a new base rejected by Wyndham City Council

A dance school in Melbourne’s west has been told to look elsewhere after its proposal for a new home was rejected by a local council. Find out why.

An Indian dance school’s bid to build a new base in an emerging business hub in Melbourne’s west has been rejected

Wyndham City Councillors knocked back an application for Punjabi Folk Dance Academy to relocate into a new facility in Truganina, due to concerns the business would not generate enough jobs to meet the council’s commercial goals outlined in the area’s local employment precinct structure plan.

The academy runs out of Tarneit Rise Primary School on Friday nights and Saturdays, with owner Palwinder Singh looking to relocate because of restriction to how often the hall can be used.

Mr Singh said he bought the 133m sq property for $500,000 to run the dance school and has been left “disappointed” by the council’s decision.

“I was very hopeful they would give me approval...I’ve spent a lot of money and time on this project,” he said.

“I wanted to do the right thing and go to the council to get permission. I own the property and paid nearly $20,000 for the planning application.

“I’m worried I’m going to struggle to afford it without the business there now.

“The school hall is not available on weekdays so I though it would be better if I got my own place and chose my own hours, which would’ve included nights during the week”.

Despite council officers recommending the application be granted, the majority of councillors opted against the move on the basis of it being inconsistent with their vision for the precinct.

Each class at the dance school would have eight students and one instructor.

The Truganina Employment PSP was approved in 2009 and projects it would deliver between 10,000-15,000 new jobs to the region and “proposes a high quality industrial and commercial area with strong architectural and landscape themes”.

Cr Josh Gilligan said the dance academy would not be able to generate more than the “handful [of jobs] being described”.

“This is about making sure we’re being consistent and protecting this area for more higher density jobs,” he said.

“It wasn’t too long ago we booted out a tobacco company that was selling retail products. We voted to boot them out because we believed the consistency, which the PSP is structured and the types of uses in terms of high density of jobs, must be preserved at all costs.

“I believe we need to apply the same practice irrespective of the type of business”.

Cr Robert Szatkowski agreed: “What is categoric is this area was created to generate jobs and prosperity for the city of Wyndham...we can’t keep approving these applications and allowing businesses that are not intended to be in the area because it undermines the area as a commercial zone”.