About 150 people attended a meeting held by the City of Bayswater last week to discuss the proposed Meltham Station Structure Plan, which has been commissioned by private developers and features buildings up to six storeys in height, with a decrease in storey heights farther away from the station.
It is understood Planning Solutions was engaged by Bayswater JV in a joint venture with Pindan and the owners of four lots of land, Tideforce.
Pindan proposes to build 70-110 residential apartments on a 3503sqm Grand Promenade block.
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Homeowner Simon Travaglini said the structure plan benefited a small group of landowners in a six-block area and left the burden of potentially 5000 more residents on the rest of the community.
He has led a petition against the plan, concerned about the burden of an extra 2595 dwellings on the roads, water supply and sewerage, as well as the impact on crime rates and property values caused by the increase in residents.
“I care about the neighbours, the environment, the people around me, the family feel of the place; it’s a great community to live in,” he said.
“If this goes ahead, I’m going to sell that land and I’m going to move to another area, and I’m not the only one who feels that way.”
Mr Travaglini said he was also concerned there was no public open space mentioned in the plan when the City’s policy states 10 per cent public open space is required for developments larger than 1500sq m.
He is pushing for the City to consider rezoning the entire railway instead, to spread the burden over a larger area.
Due to the community outcry, the City requested an extra month to carry out further community consultation. The WAPC granted 15 days and the City will now host ‘meet the planner’ sessions with residents.
Bayswater Mayor Barry McKenna said this was the first time the City has been required to consult with the community on a structure plan prepared by a private developer.
“This follows a change in planning legislation in October 2015 by the State Government,” he said.
“In effect, it removes council as the decision-making authority.”