Kennel owner in doghouse

By Tania Martin
SILVAN residents have been offended by a local dog kennel owner after he claimed that the kennel was running “beautifully” and the residents would be “happy” with its operation.
Resident Chris Withers said not once had Mr Ellis approached the residents to see if they were satisfied with his management of the kennel, despite a long consultation process and claims that dogs had escaped.
The Mail reported on Tuesday, 24 January, in its front page story “Dog Escape Alarm”, that kennel owner David Ellis said there was nothing wrong with the kennel.
Mr Ellis also said he was sure all the objectors would be happy with the way the kennel was going. At the time, local resident Volka Sawatzky also raised concerns over a flyer that was posted around the area offering a reward for a lost dog.
The phone number on the flyer was the same as the number of the kennel in Silvan.
However, when asked about the issue of a missing dog, Mr Ellis told the Mail he knew nothing about it, but the phone number on the flyer was the Silvan boarding kennel.
Mr Sawatzky last week produced a copy of the original application from May 2004, which outlined Mr Ellis’ response to the question of dog escapes.
It states that Mr Ellis agreed it was “perverse” to assume that the kennel would fail in the very function it was designed to provide.
Ms Withers said she also dialled the number on the flyer and was concerned to find it belonged to the kennel.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges originally opposed the application for the dog-boarding kennel in June 2004 after receiving 20 objections from local residents.
However, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal over tuned the council’s decision and a permit was issued at the end of 2004.
Looking at the original plans for the kennel, Ms Withers said there were a number of inconsistencies.
She said what has been built was different to what was laid out in the plans.
Shire of Yarra Ranges communications manager James Martin said that one of the council’s building and planning officers had been to inspect the kennel and found that it was in breach of a number of conditions of the permit.
Mr Martin said the developer was supposed to submit engineering plans for storm water run-off and affluent disposal prior to the commencement of construction, but had failed had to do so.
“The council is in the process of issuing a penalty notice and a fine of $524,” he said.
However, Mr Ellis said all the council’s requirements have either been met or are being met.