A POTENTIAL land swap between the D’Orazio family’s Bayswater block and 154 Leake Street was discussed last week, among the alternatives put forward for the Skipper’s Row development.
City of Bayswater hosted a Skipper’s Row subdivision options meeting with community members and owners of the block.
Three alternatives to the WA Planning Commission-approved (WAPC) development were discussed, including one with hammerheads on Carter’s land and another with a partial land swap with Riverside Gardens.
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READ NOWA third alternative included a partial land swap with 154 Leake Street, which includes a buffer to Carter’s land and no intrusion on Riverside Gardens.
Land co-owner Greg D’Orazio said the meeting was constructive and he appreciated the community’s feeling for the land.
“We appreciate there has been a lot if feeling about our subdivision,” he said.
“We’re not trying to hurt anyone or hurt any residents or certainly not destroy any wildlife and try and reduce the impact to surrounding lands as much as possible.
“I personally intend to live there… we grew up there as kids… it’s sentimental to us.”
Mr D’Orazio said their preferred proposal was the revised proposal with a hammerhead option, which was rejected by council.
“(However) we’re not going to be putting the cul-de-sacs or the roundabouts there unless the Government comes to the party and buys the neighbouring (Carter’s) land,” he said.
“All these talks are in vain if they don’t come up with the money.”
Mr D’Orazio said they would look into the Leake Street land swap option but did not know yet if it would be financially viable.
No Houses in Wetlands member Jacquie Kelly said both parties were frank with each other at the meeting.
“This meeting should have happened five months ago,” she said.
Ms Kelly said the group preferred there be no development, but if it went ahead, they wanted large buffers between Carter’s land and Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary and restrictions on cats and lights at night.
Planning Minister Donna Faragher was expected to decide whether the Government would provide funds to purchase Carter’s land last week, based on a recommendation from WAPC.
A Planning Department spokeswoman said the request to reserve and contribute to the purchase of Carter’s land was being progressed and would be considered by the WAPC.
“Advice will be presented to the Minister for Planning in due course,” she said.