Council throws out Frank Vellar subdivision

Wollongong City Council has refused an application to subdivide land occupied by two partly built mansions owned by a Vellar family company.A separate investigation is already being held into the two homes, located west of Corrimal's Cresting Ave. They are situated in bushland within a council zoning that prohibits the construction of dwellings.Approved in the early 1990s, the homes originally were submitted by company Vic Vellar Nominees. Developer Frank Vellar became a director of the company in 1998 and still is.The council is continuing its investigation into how the properties came to be situated in a location where, according to existing planning guidelines, dwellings are prohibited.They are also investigating why new planning guidelines, which have yet to come into force, changed the zone to retrospectively allow the homes.Earlier this year Vic Vellar Nominees applied to subdivide the property. The subdivision would almost certainly not be allowed under the new draft Local Environment Plan.The council has refused the proposal on the basis it does not comply with the present Local Environment Plan.Mr Vellar said mid last year, when the matter was first raised, that "the whole thing is valid".The company has said the dwellings' location was approved by the council.