Morley residents raise concerns about proposed $4.2m three-storey Vera St development

A GROUP of Morley residents are concerned over the potential drop in property value and amenity if an “out-of-character” proposed $4.2 million three-storey development with 28 apartments on Vera Street is approved.

Applicants Cohen Radosevich Town Planning’s proposal at the former church site on Lot 4/55 Vera Street included four one-bedroom units, 23 two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit.

In October, the Metropolitan Central Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) forwarded the proposal to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) for further direction.

JDAP will consider the proposal at a meeting on December 1, after SAT invited the panel to reconsider its refusal made in May.

City of Bayswater officers recommended the panel refuse the application because it does not comply with the Morley Activity Centre Structure Plan which stated developments needed to fit the density code of R40 and this proposal reflected a R60 development.

Other reasons included the proposal being considered to have undue impact on existing streetscape and to be inconsistent with the locality.

The City previously sought comment on the proposed variations to the original proposal from the affected property owners, which resulted in 31 objections and an objection petition containing 26 signatories were received.

Morley resident Jim Chapman, who lives next door to the site and helped form the petition, said the proposed apartments would struggle to be sold in the current market.

“What makes it worse is that this building is right on the side of my home and it is going to be 11m (high) with 30-odd trees,” he said.

“It devaluates my property.”

Fellow resident Neil Cole said some residents were concerned that if JDAP refused the proposal again, it would be referred to, and approved by, SAT.

“We are not objecting it because we are getting old and we have nothing better to do,” he said.

“There is going to be a proliferation of people and the whole thing is going to be very congested.

“We are used to a pretty quiet life on the boundary.”

Morley MLA Amber-Jade Sanderson said residents understood the need for affordable housing and would support a two-storey complex, which would alleviate some of their concerns.

“The SAT process does not include community consultation and engagement, SAT’s recent record on City of Bayswater matters has been to ignore council and community concerns and override local decisions,” she said.

“This is frustrating for locals who engage in good faith in the local processes.

“We have distributed copies of the petition to residents in the street and will assist them in any way we can.”

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