From the Maitland Mercury report:
The National Trust is lost for words at Maitland City Council’s recommendation to approve a light industrial development on High Street next door to Wallis House.
Conservation manager Graham Quint cannot understand why the conversion of the former fruit and vegetable stall, Weidecks, to a light metal fabrication shop and storage units would be approved at 21 High Street when the land is zoned primary production under the Maitland Local Environment Plan 2011.
The National Trust objected to the proposal in a letter to the council in December, but the council is satisfied the heritage conservation of Wallis House will not be affected after its assessment of potential impacts.
The council said the proposed development was 22.5 metres from the boundary of Wallis House and there would be plants on the boundaries of the site to soften the visual impact and provide a landscape buffer to Wallis House.
Full article by Belinda-Jane Davis available at Maitland Mercury, 23 Apr, 2012.
