THE City of Bayswater will take control of the future of Maylands Brickworks after the council agreed to end the project with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
At the May 28 meeting, councillors rejected the Department’s proposed concept F to redevelop the Brickworks into a golf course clubhouse and defer works on the drying shed, which was part of the Department’s feasibility study report.
Chief executive Andrew Brien will consider alternate community uses to reactivate the historic site, excluding residential uses, and prepare a business case to progress further studies as part of the 2020-21 budget process.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWMr Brien will investigate external sources of funding to undertake conservation works and incorporate the works in the long-term financial plan.
He will also provide a report to prepare for a town planning scheme amendment to rezone the Brickworks lake area and Lot 539 from R40 medium to high density to public open space.
Cr Elli Petersen-Pik, who proposed the rezoning, said he was disappointed that the State Government did not provide funds for a state-level heritage landmark.
He said the council should consider forming a working group once more information was gathered on alternate uses.
Mayor Dan Bull said he supported the vision that the historical site would not be residential.
But Cr Lorna Clarke believed the council was moving too quickly in making a scheme amendment as some residents might want some two-storey residential development.
She said more community consultation was needed.
The Department had previously proposed high density residential at the site as part of concept plans, but recommended the council to transform the site into a golf course clubhouse development instead.
A Department spokesperson told Community News last week that the City would consider the final course of action for the site.
Friends of Maylands Brickworks members filled the gallery, with member Stella Gray asking the council to form a working group with group members to work on a business case on a concept plan for the Brickworks, develop a cultural plan and request Mr Brien to seek funding for the group’s proposed concept.
The group proposed to retain the pug mill, form a small tea room or wine bar, preserve machinery and create a social space in the drying shed.
Ms Gray said the group thanked Cr Bull for listening to the community and expressing his support for the Brickworks to remain as a community space with no residential development.