Planning Report

4.0 Planning assessment
The proposed market is a consistent use in the Recreation and Open Space zone and required to
follow a code assessment application process if the market is conducted by a not-for-profit
organisation and located on Council land. In this case, The Pomona Country market is a not-for-
profit organisation and Stan Topper Park is Council controlled land resulting in a code assessment
application process.

An assessment against the relevant provisions of the codes is provided below.


4.1     Heritage Overlay Code
The site is affected by the Character Overlay and the former Pomona State School (Pomona and
District kindergarten and childcare centre) is located in the Park which is a Local heritage place.
While the site is affected by the heritage Overlay no building or building works result from the market
and as such there are no impacts to the heritage values of the former school or to the character of
the Park.

Every country village/town has markets and Pomona is no different. The market contributes to the
social fabric of historical Pomona and the casual lifestyle of the hinterland village. The markets
provide an outlet for farmers and hobby famers and local creatives to sell their wares in an informal
setting surrounded by one of Pomona’s historical sites.


4.2     Recreation and Open Space Zone Code
The application is required to be assessed against the Recreation and Open Space Zone Code and
the relevant provisions are provided below.


PO3
Development maintains the primary recreation function of land and maintains the ongoing provision
of recreation and open space land.


PO7
Temporary uses, such as markets or outdoor entertainment events, are supported by existing
facilities and do not significantly impact on the amenity, safe traffic environment and character of the
surrounding area.


The markets operate between the hours of 6.30am to midday with setup at around 5.30am to 6.00am
and pack up finished by 1:00pm each Saturday allowing the full usage of the park for recreational
activities the other 96% of the time. Noting that Stan Topper Park is not a sporting field that is booked
for sporting activities, but an open space area for community activities, with the main children’s
playground for Pomona located opposite the shops in Memorial Avenue under the trees.


The markets utilise the existing public amenities which, in accordance with the market permit, must
be left in a clean and tidy condition at the completion of the markets with an adequate supply of toilet
paper provided at the expense of the market.


While early setup may potentially have some small impact on nearby residents, it does not have a
significant impact on surrounding amenity as the market has been operating for many years and the
surrounding residents are used to the busyness on Saturday mornings. The market is part of

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