A STATE development panel approved a two-storey childcare in Maylands despite Bayswater councillor panel members missing the meeting.
The Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel supported the development of a childcare centre at 135-137 Peninsula Road at its December 20 meeting.
The centre, worth $2.1 million, will have outdoor play areas at the front, back and second floor of the building and house up to 112 children and 18 staff.
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Trained panel member Cr Catherine Ehrhardt, deputy member Cr Filomena Piffaretti and former deputy Elli Petersen-Pik did not attend the meeting due to prior commitments.
Mayor Dan Bull, who replaced former Deputy Mayor Chris Cornish as a panel member after the October local elections, and Cr Michelle Sutherland, who replaced Cr Petersen-Pik as a deputy, were yet to receive training.
The panel decided to proceed with the meeting as there was a quorum achieved with presiding member Megan Adair, deputy presiding member Rachel Chapman and specialist member John Syme.
It was the first time in the panel’s history a meeting was held without local government representatives.
Other panels have had at least one local government panel member present at meetings in recent years, with the exception of the City of Perth Local Development Assessment Panel which had about four meetings without local members in 2018.
Bayswater chief executive Andrew Brien said the City tried to reschedule but an alternative date was not possible.
A Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage spokesperson said the DAP considered all relevant submissions, including a report from the City of Bayswater.