Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel approves Greenfields car wash and storage facility

A car wash and storage facility will be built on vacant land in Greenfields despite concerns from neighbours.

The Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel — comprising three State planning representatives, City of Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams and deputy mayor Caroline Knight — granted landowner Takafusa Australia approval to build the $2.2 million development on a 1.37ha site on Bortolo Drive.

A report by City of Mandurah officers presented to the panel’s March 26 meeting said when the proposal was advertised for comment, it received 63 submissions, most of which were against it.

Concerns were primarily about increased noise and traffic, privacy and environmental impacts on native vegetation and wildlife.

The city’s report acknowledged that trees in the site provided habitat for Carnaby’s black cockatoos and it was identified under the city’s biodiversity strategy as a potential feeding ground for the endangered birds, but it would need to undergo natural revegetation before meeting criteria to become protected banksia woodland.

It said no threatened ecological communities were identified on the site by the applicant or Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and recommended the developer provide a detailed landscaping plan ahead of construction to include vegetation that could “support the fauna and overall native ecosystem in the area”.

The report also said the developer had made changes to the original plans, adding a 2m high noise/privacy wall to alleviate concerns, and believed conditions imposed by the panel could minimise potential impacts on nearby residents.

But the panel removed the need for the 2m wall at the proponent’s request as it considered one concrete wall being provided was appropriate and the existing fencing along the eastern boundary to homes on Palomino Place and Candelo Loop would give “a better level of passive surveillance”.

The panel also removed a condition requiring the developer to build a right-turn lane on Gordon Road for eastbound traffic at the intersection with Bortolo Drive after the applicant said its traffic engineers found the intersection could adequately cope even in 2035.

The developer had sought to extend opening hours until 8pm for the car wash and an earlier closing time of 6pm for the storage facility, with remote access allowed outside opening hours.

But both were restricted to operating from 7am to 7pm Mondays to Saturdays and 9am to 7pm Sundays and public holidays, with any changes subject to a noise verification report and council approval.

According to the panel, the development met the objectives of the site’s service commercial zoning and potential noise, traffic and antisocial behaviour impacts on nearby homes had been adequately addressed via supporting studies and the imposed conditions.