A RURAL Tasmanian pharmacy based in a former service station is facing the possibility of being closed due to a dispute over a planning permit, The Advocate reports.
The local newspaper revealed Yolla Community Pharmacy has been forced to apply for a permit from the Waratah-Wynyard Council, to allow the Section 90 approved pharmacy to continue to provide pharmaceutical services to the community.
Speaking to The Advocate, Adrian Pilcher, the husband of pharmacy owner, Lynne Pilcher, said the council had initially said the building had been zoned as retail, and the pharmacy was retail.
"Retrospectively they have come up with things requiring us to comply [with]," he said.
"The difficulty has been getting experts to come and do the inspections.
"Like this used to be a garage; there would be oil and petrol and spills, so we've had to have an environmental report done with zero nasty chemicals.
"Then (they said) we had to check if the septic system might not cope.
"We've had a traffic management consultant to make sure we've not impacting traffic; sufficient parking, [and] a building surveyor.
"Every report that came back was glowing."
However, the council's General Manager, Shane Crawford, said the Pilchers had been advised that they would need a planning permit approved before opening the pharmacy.
He added the council issued a Building Notice and Building Order after the pharmacy commenced operation without the necessary approvals.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 16 Oct 20
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