A prominent local businessman has levelled allegations of harassment against town planners in his attempt to restore a historic homestead on the outskirts of Bendigo. 

Corey Scoble sold the popular Brewhouse Cafe late last year to purchase the almost 160-year-old Ravenswood Run estate with plans to add to the bed and breakfast by converting its former stables into a restaurant and function space. 

But he claims combative and protracted dealings with the City of Greater Bendigo’s planning department are putting him hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket. 

“What we want is to turn Ravenswood into something like the Yarra Valley,” Mr Scoble said.

“We sleep up to 48 people here and we want the old stables to be a place for wedding receptions and private functions and a restaurant, we want people to be able to come out here and have a Sunday lunch, for coach tours to come out here. 

“I’ll I’m trying to do is put Ravenswood Run on the map and bring people out here – but the way they’re treating us with this planning permit is absolutely disgusting.”

The city’s statutory planning manager Ross Douglas said the delay in the processing the application – which has been ongoing since May – was due a lack of required information submitted by the developer.

“Many local businesses are important to greater Bendigo’s tourism economy and the city is keen to support them to operate successfully,” Mr Douglas said. 

“However, the appropriate approvals must first be put in place to ensure public safety and compliance to relevant codes and standards.

“The application is relatively simple, if all of the required information is submitted to support the proposal then it can be properly assessed.”

But Mr Scoble believes the process became personal after he challenged some of the requirements given him by the planning department. He claimed various council inspectors – including health and building safety inspectors – had been targeting his bed and breakfast since his relationship with the city soured over the development application.  

“This is a time consuming process and it's been very frustrating, very frustrating, over the last 6 months – whenever you ask questions that aren't under the [Local Government Act], or question something, you get no response, you get the old cold shoulder,” he said. 

Mr Scoble said he wasn’t told until July that he was required to do an Aboriginal cultural heritage study. He had finally completed documents which he said fulfilled that obligation when, earlier this week, he was told his application had lapsed.

“Which means I have to start all over again and pay all the same fees,” Mr Scoble said. 

He said Heritage Victoria and Visit Victoria were both supportive of the plan and called on newly-elected councillors to push to make his dream a reality. 

Executive director Tim Smith confirmed Heritage Victoria had issued a permit exemption for the proposed works to convert the stable block to a function venue with kitchen, toilet block and open reception area.

“The owner is required to use appropriate materials, such as short sheet iron for roof repairs, and to minimise any impacts to the external appearance of the stables and its landscape setting,” Mr Smith said.  

“It was also recommended that an appropriate person be engaged to produce a Conservation Management Plan for the building.” 

The state’s tourism body held its cards close to its chest, but issued a statement in response to the Advertiser’s questions about its stance on Ravenswood Run. 

“Visit Victoria is investing in regional Victoria to activate the visitor economy and we welcome private investment that is complementary,” the statement read. 

The Ravenswood Run owner said he understood the Local Government Act required him to resubmit his application – but called on council to fast track the process. 

“This is another example of how hard it is to open a business,” Mr Scoble said. 

“Our builders are out of work and can’t do the fit out and I’ll have lost $200,000 in weddings and functions around Christmas if I don’t have a planning permit by January.

“By March I’ll have lost another $300,000 worth of weddings.” 

.