Lawton Freight strikes solution on Goulburn truck parking depot

But the decision at Tuesday night's council meeting was a mere formality that the applicant expected. He has since temporarily relocated to another site at north Goulburn and has plans for a permanent base.

Paul Lawton Freight had been parking six trucks on the site, on the corner of Finlay Road and Lockyer Street for the past two years.

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Council planners said this was operating without consent and last year drew neighbours' complaints about noise, dust, hours of operation into the early morning and truck lights shining into windows.

It had continued to function despite a stop-work order in March, 2020, their report stated.

The following December, planners recommended refusal of a development application they had requested. Councillors instead deferred the matter, pending talks about possible consent conditions and an alternative base.

But on Tuesday, environment and planning director Scott Martin reported that no resolution had been reached and the applicant had been requested to withdraw the DA.

This was not done and planners formally recommended refusal on the basis it didn't meet the definition of a truck depot as it did not involve onsite servicing.

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Furthermore, it "did not promote good design and amenity, orderly economic use and development", exceeded noise and vibration controls and was not in the public interest due to "land use conflict."

The council's traffic committee also pointed out that heavy vehicles were not permitted to travel south on Lockyer Street due to the thoroughfare's height and weight limits. The company wanted to use this route to access the Hume Highway.

Councillors refused the DA as an administrative formality. However general manager Warwick Bennett said Mr Lawton had since moved on to a temporary location in Common Street, north Goulburn, behind the Budget Petrol Station, that was "more appropriately zoned."

The site is located away from homes.

In answer to a question from Deputy Mayor Peter Walker as to whether this was an appropriate spot, Mr Martin said it was suitable in terms of zoning (industrial), location and access and linked in with the council's plans for a heavy vehicle route along Common Street.

"In our view it is a low-risk solution until a more permanent (outcome) gets across the line," he said.

Cr Peter Walker told the meeting that Mr Lawton was negotiating with ARTC to lease land next to the Mobil depot on southern Sloane Street for the truck depot.

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The site had an identical use previously.

After the meeting, the Deputy Mayor said it was a "sensational outcome."

"I'm very supportive of Paul's commitment to Goulburn," he said.

"He always keeps his trucks very neat and tidy, runs a good operation and is a good employer in the community."

Cr Denzil Sturgiss also welcomed the compromise, saying Mr Lawton needed a Goulburn site.

The Gunning-based bulk-freight company had 12 trucks, 11 employees and operated throughout central and southern NSW and western Victoria, The Farmer publication stated in 2020.

The Post has sought comment from Mr Lawton.

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