Carter family offers to sell wetlands lot to City of Bayswater

THE CARTER family has offered to sell the wetlands at lot 14, 128 King William Street to the City of Bayswater.

The site has been in the public spotlight since July, after clearing works began at the wetlands, with residents unaware of the WA Planning Commission’s (WAPC) approval of the Skipper’s Row subdivision.

According to the October 31 council meeting agendathe Carters emailed a formal written offer for the City to buy lot 14, which was received November 2.

The offer is valid until November 18 and the suggested purchase price is not known.

“The offer includes the profit that would have been realised from the development of the site,” the report said.

“Securing this profit is contingent upon the developer accepting risks associated with the development.”

These risks include not obtaining approval, unforseen site conditions and project delays increasing costs.

The family offered the block for sale to the City of Bayswater in 2010 and 2013; both times they were knocked back.

A City officer recommended council consider the offer once they have carried out their own valuation at a cost of $4000.

The officer also recommended the City continue to pursue the State Government for funding for the potential purchase of the property.

No Houses in Wetlands member Jacquie Kelly said the group had supported the sale of the land to the City “all along”.

“We have a lot of empathy for the Carter family,” she said.

“We want the sale to happen; it’s a win-win for the community.”

Ms Kelly said council should not “muck around” in purchasing the block.

On November 2, the City received a letter from the Department of Environmental Regulation that said lots 14 and 6-10 were “possibly contaminated” and further investigation was required.

A meeting was held with the WAPC chairman and Department of Planning officers on October 27 to discuss a number of matters including possible sources of funding.

A meeting has been requested with the Minister for Planning.

City of Bayswater Mayor, councillors, acting chief executive and directors met with the D’Orazio family – owners of the rest of Skipper’s Row – to explore further options for their site.

This followed council’s knock-back last month of a revised proposal that included a 4.2m-4.4m buffer zone along King William Street frontage and “hammerhead” treatments rather than cul-de-sacs in the Carter’s land.

The owners said they would come back to the City in two weeks.

Council is set to make a decision about the Carter’s land next Tuesday.