Due to compliance issues with Council, Sandy Creek Clydesdales owners Matthew and Jaimie Thompson say they have been forced to cancel much of their business activities. This includes planned Valentine’s Day events as well as harness clinics, show prep workshops, dining carts and study tours – anything, in fact, which involves members of the public visiting the property on Sandy Creek Road.  

The well-known and much-loved enterprise earned not just one, but two awards at Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Business Awards last year. Sandy Creek Clydesdales won the People’s Choice Award at Mount Alexander Shire Council’s business awards and Matthew took out the Young Achiever Award.    

The [Tarrangower] Times spoke to Jaimie Thompson, who said that they were giving serious thought to packing up and leaving the district to run their business elsewhere. According to Jaimie, their business model requires them to obtain a Place of Assembly planning permit. She believes that this requires a change in the land use classification.  

“We delved into just what changing the land use zoning would require,” Jaimie said. “We found out that we would need to do studies that include traffic management, parking, sound and also one that addresses the indigenous overlay. When we discovered that the studies might cost over $50,000, we scrapped that idea.”

For the past few years or so, Matthew and Jaimie have welcomed visitors to their property – to attend a workshop, have a carriage ride or simply a tour of the property. “But now we’ve been told to stop,” Jaimie said. They have received three Council fines in recent months.

 While it is not possible for Council to comment on the specifics of any matter under enforcement, a Council spokesperson said:

“In order to safely hold events and congregations of people on private land that minimise any risk to the environment or have any other negative impact, there are certain permissions required under State Government legislation and the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme. 

“In line with these regulations, a Place of Assembly planning permit is required.

“Council has provided information to the Sandy Creek Clydesdale Stud on these requirements, which has included advice on how the required information can be obtained.”

On a brighter note, the Thompsons took four of their horses to the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre recently for the National Clydesdale and Heavy Horse Festival.  

“Well, it was four and a half horses actually, because one of them has a foal at foot,” Jaimie said. “We also took two dogs and two kids, so it was quite a trip! We didn’t get a placing, but we still did well. A lot of feathers in our caps, and a lot of learning took place.”

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 2 February 2024.