Tribunal overrules council for kennel go ahead, but couple’s dream is in tatters

Written by Catherine Ritchie.

DOG breeders Len and Mellodie Woolley have won a battle to begin a dog kennel business on Howes Creek Road - but it seems it’s all too late.

The couple was originally granted a permit to establish kennels for 20 breeding dogs and 20 boarding dogs on their two acre block on Howes Creek Road last year by the then Mansfield Shire planning officer Dirk Cummins, under stringent guidelines.

But then Mansfield Shire councillors overruled the planning application for kennels in December on the grounds the site was inappropriate, and gave the Woolleys 28 days to remove all but four of their dogs or else pay heavy fines.

Now the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has ruled the permit should be granted because the enterprise would not make unreasonable impact on neighboring properties.

VCAT recommended the original guidelines from the planning officer should be adopted, with some modifications for noise.

But the win is a hollow victory for the Woolleys.

They say they were forced to get rid of 90 per cent of their valuable dogs quickly at give-away prices.

Mr Woolley said they had funded the project from the sale of a much larger enterprise in Gippsland, in particular importing $100,000 worth of dogs known as American Pocket Poodles.

Having lost half a year’s income, and sold their valuable breeding dogs, the Woolleys have said they cannot afford to continue their business and are currently making plans to take up the permit before selling their house and business to someone else.