MORE: City of Swan back flips on Darling Range Hotel site, now favours demolition for new servo
THE East Metro Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) has todayknocked back a development application to demolish a century-old pub in Bellevue once used by World War I diggers stationed at Blackboy Hill.
Bellevue Residents and Ratepayers Association secretary Dianne Arvino said locals were ecstatic the Darling Range Hotel, built in 1903, had been saved from the wrecking ball again.
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READ NOW“None of the development assessment panel supported the motion to approve the petrol station,” she said.
“The community overwhelmingly does not want or need another service station in the area, especially if it means demolishing a historic building to do so and using land earmarked under the Bellevue East Land Use Study (BELHUS) for a neighbourhood centre.
“This plan is ill-conceived and short-sighted and will see Bellevue have eight service stations within 2km, but only two buildings left that are over 100 years old.”
Ms Arvino said the association believed the Anzac connection to the Hotel was of State significance.
“It is a connection that should be revered and which also has untapped tourism potential,” she said.
“The Heritage Council is reviewing the Darling Range Hotel on April 28 for an interim listing, and we are hoping that will go ahead, which will preserve the building for 12 months.”
In a back flip, the City of Swan this week threw its support behind the demolition of the Darling Range Hotel.
City chief executive Mike Foley said after receiving further advice staff was satisfied the development of a petrol station at the hotel site in Bellevue was consistent with the City’s Bellevue Land Use Scheme and local planning scheme.
“Late last year, the City of Swan originally recommended that the proposed development be refused as it was at odds with the City’s Local Planning Scheme (No. 17) and conflicted with the future objectives for the site for the development of a neighbourhood centre as outlined in the Bellevue East Land Use Scheme,” he said.
“However, after recently receiving further retail planning advice, City planning staff are satisfied the development of a petrol station on the site would not prejudice the development of a neighbourhood centre within the Bellevue precinct.
However, Ms Arvino said the fight was not over, and the developer could again take the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).
“The developer can now go to SAT for a magistrate to make a decision if they choose and they probably will,” she said.
“Even though the JDAP has rejected the proposal, SAT can make a decision in secret, which is why we need a conservation order on the building and to have it heritage listed.”
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