MANSFIELD Shire Council recently turned down two planning applications - one for a convenience restaurant and the other for an amendment to an existing permit for a service station - in front of 80 people at Tuesday’s council meeting.

The motion was carried unanimously to the sound of cheers and applause from the crowd, as well as those watching and listening in via Facebook and Mansfield Radio from home.

The application would have allowed the landowner of 2-4 Station Street to develop a convenience restaurant at the site, which, despite not yet having confirmed an operator, had been subject to significant controversy and debate.