The vacant site in Maylands.
Camera IconThe vacant site in Maylands. Credit: Supplied/Kristie Lim

Coles to work with council on vacant site

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

COLES has confirmed it will work with the City of Bayswater on opportunities to activate a neglected site in Maylands.

The supermarket giant owns the former Cascade Tavern site on Guildford Road which has been vacant for 13 years and subject to graffiti, vandalism and litter.

Councillors unanimously supported Cr Elli Petersen-Pik’s motion at its July 9 meeting, which asked chief executive Andrew Brien to write to Coles about collaborating with the City to activate the site, consider a peppercorn lease to the City and improve the front area of the site.

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The council wanted to rent the site to hold community events such as an outdoor cinema.

It also requested Coles to fix the broken retaining wall fronting the footpath and contracting a gardener to landscape and maintain the garden beds.

A Coles spokesperson said they were working through options and would continue discussions with the council about opportunities to use the vacant land.

Cr Elli Petersen-Pik.
Camera IconCr Elli Petersen-Pik. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

According to an officer’s report, the City was advised by Coles that it would not be in a position to enter any leases until it completed a strategic review of the site.

Cr Petersen-Pik said the site was a major “unsightly blight” on the streetscape of the town centre.

“Everyone who passes through the suburb can see the neglect and it has a negative impact on the image of Maylands and the City of Bayswater,” he said.

“I’ve been trying to push Coles to do something with the site for almost four years now, as there is so much potential to use the lot for further activation of the town centre.

“While it is their land and they can do whatever they want to do with it, the current state of the site is unacceptable.”

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