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City under fire on store plan

Katelyn Booth, Canning TimesCanning Gazette

A proposal to rezone the corner of Vahland Avenue and Arlington Drive in Willetton from residential to commercial has sparked conflict between residents and the council over concerns the store’s presence would compromise road safety.

The meeting was held to allow residents affected by the rezoning proposal to put questions to planning and traffic consultants from the City of Canning.

Willetton resident Randall Brink said everyone in the area left the forum feeling powerless and that there had been a severe lack of planning by the City.

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A City of Canning representative said the proponent sought the zone change because there were limited land parcels in inner-urban areas of Perth large enough for this type of development.

Mr Brink told the Canning Times the Road Traffic Survey completed by the City did not cover a wide enough area and minimal investigation had been conducted.

‘We thought that the City would have set up a panel for residents to be able to ask questions to, but when we got there, tables were set up in the room and it was disappointing that several community leaders did not show up,’ he said.

‘The forum became heated very quickly once we instigated a group discussion and it was clear that the City did not understand how damaging the store would be for that location.’

The City representative said the City wanted residents to be well informed about the development and offered the opportunity to lodge submissions.

Main Roads WA has been asked to comment on the traffic study prepared by the City of Canning before a report is presented to council in September or October.

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