The location of the Iterno Bayswater development.
Camera IconThe location of the Iterno Bayswater development. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie.

Iterno Bayswater: Bayswater Council recommends conditions to WAPC despite opposition

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

DESPITE opposition to residential development next to Carter’s wetland and the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, Bayswater Council has recommended conditions to the WA Planning Commission for the application for 23 single lots at the Iterno Bayswater site.

The council voted last night 8-2 to note its previous refusal of the development and recommend conditions if the WAPC approved developer Parcel Property’s amended subdivision application at Skipper’s Row, Lots 6-10 Leake Street, which is owned by the D’Orazio family, subject to conditions.

Councillors Giorgia Johnson and Elli Petersen-Pik voted against it.

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The application includes landscape buffers to the wetlands, 23 single residential lots and a drop of three lots from the original WAPC approval.

Conditions include advice on the risks of mosquito viruses, construction of a uniform fence abutting the public open space and Carter’s wetland, as well as a noise wall.

Council supported Mayor Dan Bull’s amendments for the developer to include additional information on where the removed white mulberry tree would be replaced in the landscaping plan.

The City will also request an on-site investigation with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Power and the Department of Planning.

Cr Bull said these measures were to improve on the application for 23 lots, rather than reverting back to the approved application for 27 lots.

Cr Barry McKenna said it would be a “waste of time” to fight the development and turn it into a wetland.

“We will make the best of what we can do,” he said.

“We can look at other pieces of land and get on with rescuing other lands.”

No Houses In Wetlands spokeswoman Deborah Bowie questioned whether more than 50 paper bark trees that were destroyed in 2016 would be replaced and where revegetation would occur.

Development approvals manager Helen Smith said the City was considering including a clause for about 30 trees being planted along the buffer zone next to Carter’s wetlands.

Ms Smith said the buffer zone near Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary and Carter’s wetland would be the proposed main area where paper bark trees would be planted but this was yet to be approved in the final local development plan.

According to an officer’s report, while the City preferred the developer to achieve the maximum recommended buffer of 50m from wetlands to development, this was not achievable considering the residential zoning and existing WAPC subdivision approval.

The report stated the proposal did not include a public open space contribution but a buffer from development of 30m to the sanctuary and 10m to Carter’s wetland could be achieved internally within the site to the north-east and north-west boundaries.