Morley Galleria redevelopment a step closer

Vicinity Centres and Perron Investments have applied to upgrade the centre and build a town square, three storeys of shops, a new food court, cinema, six-storey office tower above a two-storey car park, six-storey apartment/hotel tower, upgrade the bus station and relocate the Water Corporation drainage basin.

After public consultation, Bayswater Council recommended approval for the works, with a host of conditions, to the Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP).

The works are part of larger redevelopment plans to be completed by 2031.

Deputy Mayor Stephanie Coates said the project was long overdue and it was time to freshen up the area.

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“I look forward to the bus station upgrade and the town square on Bishop Street,” she said.

Councillor Dan Bull successfully moved that Council recommend to JDAP that the developers include seven electric car charge points in their plans.

Cr Bull said “electric cars is where we’re headed” and charge points were standard in many large developments.

However, Councillor John Rifici said he did not think it was Council’s position to force businesses to supply the chargers.

“They would have to knock out carparking bays needed… let’s wait for the public to demand it,” he said.

Cr Bull also attempted to restrict wording so only one street tree could be removed as part of the works.

The move was lost and Councillor Sally Palmer said: “We all love trees but we have to apply logic to such a large development”.

At the meeting, Council also adopted the Morley Activity Centre Structure Plan, which will now go out for advertising.

Cr Palmer said she was concerned about the ability for people turning from Walter Road at the Wellington Road to Crimea Street portion.

“People come up from Crimea and want to turn right… it’s a huge concern,” she said.

A City officer said that level of detail was not included in the structure plan and those issues would be dealt with later.

Zoning changes in the area were also approved and would now go out for public comment.

Cr Rifici said it was important people understood what the changes would mean.

“I’m concerned it’s so in-depth people might not process or absorb fully,” he said.

Cr Coates unsuccessfully tried to change the zoning uses for a block surrounded by Lovegrove Way, Russell Street and Walter Road West.

She wanted fast food, small bar and service station changed from “not permitted” use.

Cr Coates said a lot of things could happen in Morley in the future, such as the addition of rail.