Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Former Bayswater Mayor laments City’s failure to purchase Skipper’s Row land

Toyah ShakespeareEastern Reporter

A FORMER Bayswater mayor says the City “missed the boat” when it refused to buy the soon-to-de-developed Carter’s land next to Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary in 2010.

Earlier this year, council recommended refusal for an 11,573sq m subdivision at Skipper’s Row that was later approved by the WA Planning Commission.

Clearing works that began this month drew community outcry and a series of public meetings.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Current councillor Terry Kenyon said council “failed” the community in its 2010 decision not to buy the Carter’s land at lot 14, 128 King William Street, which makes about half of the approved subdivision.

Cr Kenyon said he pushed hard for the purchase of the land, thought to cost $2 to $3.5 million, when he was mayor.

“Time and time again we had opportunity to buy the property and council declined,” he said.

“It would have been a win for the City, we could gave put strict environmental conditions in place.

“Council failed on this one.”

Cr Kenyon said it was “insulting” the way landowners, the D’Orazios and Carters, had been treated recently.

“They have a right to build on their land, they’ve been given approval,” he said.

He said they had paid land taxes and rates for 30 years and the land was zoned residential.