The council received an application for the construction of a house and shed in Clunes.

Town planners had recommended a permit be rejected because the proposed site of construction fell inside an area covered by a SLO on the property.

The council instead voted to amend a resolution, granting an application on the condition amended plans for the location of the house are submitted to the council.

The plans have to show that the proposed site of construction is moved outside the SLO area on the property.

The vote was keenly watched by several members of the Spa Country Landscape Guardians Group in the public gallery who are fighting proposed plans by Wind Power to place turbines in SLO areas near Smeaton.

Wind Power's director Andrew Newbold said a draft consultancy report indicated to him that a wind farm could be placed in the areas protected by the SLO provided the design was sensitive to the environment.

However the decision of councillors and comments made at their monthly meeting last week indicate Wind Power's plans to place turbines in a sensitive area are unlikely to be supported if they ever reach the council.

Acting Mayor Tim Hayes said he believed Wind Power would need to provide an overwhelming reason to put a wind farm in the SLO covered area.

Cr Hayes also expressed concerns about the plans for the house in their original form.

"I certainly cannot bring myself to be accepting these plans in their original form," Cr Hayes said.

"The significant landscape overlay is there for a reason and I think we have to respect that. They aren't there to protect a particular view but to protect the significance and sensitivities of the area.

"I feel council needs to maintain a very strong position on the issue of significant landscape overlays."

Cr Bill McClenaghan said it was important that the resolution be amended to allow the granting of a permit on strict conditions to allow the applicant to progress with his plans.

"Planning issues can be a mine-field and people can put their whole lives on hold waiting for these things to be sorted out," he said.

Areas covered by a significant landscape overlay are deemed to have significant visual, environmental and landscape characteristics.