Deputy MayorCr Margaret Rae said the Mayor's debate was

A planning permit for a cemetery at Kinglake was passed on a narrow 4-3 vote at last week’s Murrindindi Shire Council.

Mayor Cr Leigh Dunscombe, Cr Eric Lording and Cr Charlie Bisset voted against the controversial application. In favour of the motion were Crs Jackie Ashe, Bec Bowles, Sandice McAulay and Margaret Rae.

At one stage of the debate, Deputy Mayor Cr Rae raised a point of order that Mayor Cr Dunscombe’s debate “is irrelevant to the substantive matter of the motion”.

Cr Eric Lording’s bid failed for Cr Dunscombe be granted an extension of his speaking time to address the motion. Cr Lording’s motion failed to gain a seconder.

Crs Dunscombe and Lording proposed a motion that the planning permit be denied, and said that the proposal was inconsistent with the Murrindindi Planning Scheme.

Crs Dunscombe and Lording said that the proposal would “adversely impact on the significant geographic and physical features of the area”.
They claimed that a cemetery at the 265 Whittlesea-Kinglake Rd address would permanently remove land from any future agricultural production. The denial motion was lost.

A calvalcade of local residents appeared at last week’s Murrindindi Council video-conferenced meeting to object to plans for a cemetery at 265 Whittlesea-Kinglake Rd, Kinglake Central.

Speaking against the proposal were Jemima Richards, Linda Brodersen, Shane Sparkes, Bron Sparkes, Ann Burgess, Paul Rogers, John Griffiths, Colin French, Nigel Head, Lola Sparkes, Dom Sparkes and Bev Johns.

Murrindindi Shire CEO Craig Lloyd read submissions against the cemetery proposal from Lyn Gunter, Nina Lunde and Mei-Ling Griffiths.
Speaking in favour of the proposal were Alex Pottage, Christine Stonehouse, Cheryl Phillips and Liane Dawson.

Mr Lloyd read a submission on behalf of Les Joynson in support of the application.

Mayor Cr Leigh Duns-combe was defeated in his bid for the cemetery planning permit to be denied.

Only Crs Eric Lording and Charlie Bisset supported the motion to deny a permit.They unsuccessfully argued that the proposal is inconsistent with the Public Use Zone, and also is inconsistent with the decision guidelines of the Murr-indindi Planning Scheme.

Cr Rae’s move to close down Cr Dunscombe’s debate on a point of order that he was being “irrelevant” is one of the first public indications of a split between the Deputy Mayor and the Mayor.

Observers believe that Cr Rae would like to be re-appointed as Murrindindi Mayor if she is returned to Council after the election that closes at 6pm on Friday, October 23. Results will be declared on Friday, November 13.