Sorell Councillors voted unanimously to refuse planning approval for the dog daycare

Sorell Council has deemed an outdoor dog daycare incompatible with its rural location, despite the venture being allowed under the planning scheme. What do you think?

Ingrid Inglis and Maddie Johnson with their dogs Gossamer, Queenie and Soda at Orielton. Picture: Chris Kidd

A dog daycare and training business at Orielton has been forced to close, after Sorell Council went against planning advice and rejected the owners’ application.

In a move described as “very, very rare” by the local mayor, Sorell councillors unanimously voted against planning advice in relation to Every Dog Farm Adventures.

The business offered outdoor dog daycare at a 5.33ha property at Orielton on the outskirts of Sorell.

The business began operating in a limited way late last year, with council’s staff’s limited approval given their use of the property was permitted under the planning scheme.

Council sent officers to discuss fencing, environmental matters including waste, noise and biosecurity and traffic engineering.

Approval was recommended, with nine conditions to satisfy neighbours’ concerns.

Planning officers noted “the intensity and scale of the use is considered minor”, with dogs to be exercised in groups of 10.

There could be 20 dogs on the site at once.

Dog daycare business Every Dog Farm Adventures has been forced to close its operation at Orielton after its planning application was refused by Sorell Council. Councillors were concerned the activity was not suitable for a rural area, despite being allowed under the planning scheme. Picture: Facebook.

However when their formal planning application came before Sorel Council in October, Every Dog Daycare and Training co-owner Aidan Bindoff was shocked when the application was refused.

Mr Bindoff said the property had been purchased in 2022 after a long search for a place suitable for an outdoor dogs’ day retreat.

“I think that you should be able to do your research and find out where you can operate your business legally and have the confidence that you put the planning application in and that’s approved. There may be conditions or negotiations around it,” Mr Bindoff said.

“It shouldn’t come down to non-planning reasons that councillors decide to champion because that’s not their role.”

There were four representations against the proposal from nearby residents.

Representations included that there was no significant benefit to the region, that there were non-compliant existing structures on site, concerns about traffic movements, that the noise of dogs barking would be a risk to lambing ewes, that dog faeces posed a hydatids risk, concerns about the height and construction of fences and gates and that there was no plan for retrieval of escaped dogs

Councillors heeded these concerns, with all nine voting against the application.

Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent at the site of the Southern Beaches Swim Centre at Dodges Ferry. Picture: Chris Kidd

Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent said it was “very, very rare” for councillors to reject planning advice.

“I’ve been there as Mayor 11 years and I can only remember two times it’s happened. We take it extremely seriously,” he said.

Mr Vincent said councillors largely accepted neighbours’ concerns.

“I think most of the issue was about these sort of activities in a rural area with lambing sheep,” he said.

“There’s a difference between a farmer who might be breeding kelpies, against someone who is bringing a heap of dogs out of town. It just did not fit in around farms in our opinion.”

“It’s bloody awkward for councillors, because they have to have their community hat on, and they are meant to be experts in planning.”

Mr Bindoff said despite the likelihood the business could successfully have the decision reversed in the planning tribunal, he could not afford to take any more financial risk.

“It would give me no confidence to invest in Sorell again,” he said.

The Orielton property will now be sold and the business will focus on expanding at its existing site at Glenorchy.