By Cam Lucadou-Wells
The owner of Crystal World and Prehistoric Journeys hopes a social-media outcry may help save the business falling foul of planning laws.
The business’s future is uncertain after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal refused its application for a warehouse extension on the Devon Meadows site on 24 April.
VCAT member Picha Djohan stated that the nature of the business – with more than 300 tons of specimens including crystals, dinosaur fossils and meteorites sold and stored onsite – was unlawful in the Green Wedge.
Business owner Thomas Kapitany was heartened by a wealth of well-wishers on Facebook, as well as a 2700-strong online petition to stop his business from being shut down.
“It’s great to get such a public response.
“It will get more reaction. We’re known around the world as a destination place.
“There’s only a few labs like this around the world.”
Mr Kapitany was unsure if public criticism would cause Casey Council to “make an example of me” or “back off and work with me”.
“There always has to be a compromise in these things.”
The world-renowned geologist says the business had operated at the site since the year 2000 before the land was re-zoned to Green Wedge A.
The trade is worth “millions” of dollars to the local economy, as well as employing 20 staff, he says.
He’s consulted and supplied museums around the world, trains geology students and travels 10 months of the year following his “hobby” and “lifestyle”.
Mr Kapitany claims that Casey refused to sit down and negotiate prior to the matter landing at VCAT.
Casey Council counter-claims that Mr Kapitany went to VCAT rather than meeting with the council.
Casey statutory planning and building services manager Duncan Turner said the land-owner now had to comply with the VCAT decision and the State Government’s Green Wedge provisions.
Warehousing and retail sales were prohibited in the zone, Mr Turner said.
However Mr Kapitany regarded the VCAT decision as non-binding on the council. It didn’t comprise an order to shut down Crystal World.
“The council doesn’t have to do anything. It can make an exemption (for Crystal World).
“They don’t have to give me a permit but it doesn’t mean they have to close me down.”
