The Liberal Mayor, Larry Bolitho and his deputy, Cr Peter Dimbrowsky were so concerned, they also formally voted against the proposal.

The application to subdivide the 10-hectare site into 9.5 hectares and 0.5 hectares, as already severed by Clarke Way, was recommended for refusal because it proposed a variation to the development standard of 95 per cent and land parcels did not comply with the minimum allotment size for rural zoning.

The applicants said the smaller lot was unsuitable for agricultural use. It did not provide a plan of subdivision prepared by a surveyor, a geotechnical report, a preliminary containment assessment or information about on-site sewage management.

Councillor Greg Burnett argued for deferral for further consideration and said the applicants should be given more time and ``one more chance'' to present the relevant information.

Cr Bolitho, Cr Dimbrowsky and the three Labor councillors, Raymond Harty, Tony Hay and Barbara Burton (Cr David Bentham was absent) opposed this motion but it was voted for by a Liberal majority of six.

``We have an obligation to make an informed decision, we can't approve or disapprove this application it if it is incomplete,'' Cr Burnett said.

Cr Mike Thomas said it was ``extraordinary and unreasonable'' to ask the applicants to use the two blocks as one because a road had already subdivided the property.

Labor councillors said the applicants had already been given ``ample time'' to prepare information.

Cr Harty said approving the proposal would create precedents for future subdivisions on the grounds of natural division and would erode agricultural productivity and rural character of the area.

``This is the urbanisation of the rural fringe by stealth,'' Cr Harty said. ``If this [the lack of information provided] has relevance now; why did it not have relevance when it was before the planning department?''

``This is unnecessary expense and a straw castle to be knocked down by government agencies.''

Approval would allow the 0.5 hectares to be developed and a dwelling to be built.