MORNINGTON solicitor and developer Joseph Alesci and his company Porsh Pty Ltd have been fined $12,000 and ordered to pay costs of $8000 over planning breaches at his Epicurean Centre in Red Hill South.
Mornington Peninsula Shire communications manager Todd Trimble said the shire took Mr Alesci and Porsh to Frankston Magistrates’ Court “for various breaches of the planning permit and the planning scheme”.
“The offences included the construction of a concrete pad and blast wall on the road reserve; creation of a dam for the purposes of waste water treatment; failure to satisfy a section 173 agreement; and constructing the car park contrary to the approved plans,” he said.
Mr Trimble said Magistrate Holzor, after hearing the basic details of the case, said he was inclined not to issue a conviction.
“The issue of conviction was an important factor in this case as it would impact on Mr Alesci’s profession.
“Following the indication by the magistrate, the accused agreed to proceed on the basis of pleading guilty to five charges in total. Subsequently he was found guilty and fined $6000 and ordered to pay $4000 in council’s costs. The company was found guilty of one breach, fined $6000 and ordered to pay $4000 in council costs.”
Shire planner Paul Lewis said there was “a lot of community interest in this development”.
Mr Alesci told The News: “It was a fair outcome and I hope we can all move on.”
