Vizards in legal dispute over earthworks at Arthurs Seat property

Steve Vizard is set to front court in a battle with the Mornington Peninsula Shire over planning permits on an Arthurs Seat property.

152 Purves Rd, Arthurs seat. Picture: Realestate.com

TV star and former lawyer Steve Vizard is locked in a legal battle with the Mornington Peninsula Shire over planning permits for a sprawling Arthurs Seat property.

The Logie-winning writer and comedian has been named in court proceedings launched by the council concerning a property owned by a company of which his wife Sarah is the director and sole shareholder.

Ms Vizard has vowed to defend the legal action “to the hilt” and slammed the council for wasting ratepayers’ money.

Mornington Peninsula Shire planning compliance manager Paul Lewi confirmed the council had started action in the magistrates’ court against Vizard, the landowner and contractor for carrying out earthworks without a permit.

Sarah and Steve Vizard.

The total number of charges has not been revealed but it is believed the maximum penalty for each offence is $180,000.

“It is alleged that the area affected is within Waterfall Creek, and those works resulted in effectively creating a dam within the creek, and altering the vehicle crossing,” Mr Lewis said.

However, Ms Vizard said the work carried out about 18 months ago was done on the advice of experts.

“I love the Mornington Peninsula,” Ms Vizard said.

“This is a bureaucratic storm in a teacup and a waste of ratepayers’ money.

“The matter relates to safety repairs to an existing, 50-year-old dam, completely on the advice of independent experts. It will be defended to the hilt.”

The council will argue the work was in breach of Section 126 of the Planning and Environment Act and contrary to the Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme.

The dispute is the latest high-profile court fight brought by the council in its battle to stop residents ­carrying out work without permits.

Last year the shire won cases against the companies of trucking tycoon Lindsay Fox and former AFL player Chris Judd.

Fox’s company was fined $20,000 on September 6, 2019 for illegally ripping up foreshore vegetation and replacing it with a massive lawn.

Days later, on September 12, Judd’s company Three Zebras was fined $40,000 for illegally clearing 3000sq m of preserved vegetation alongside a protected creek and dam in a green wedge zone at his Arthurs Seat holiday home because he was scared of snakes and bushfires.

The council would not reveal how much it had spent fighting cases involving illegal clearing in the past year.

Mr Vizard is scheduled to appear in court in March.