BASSENDEAN Council has ruled out housing at Christie Park, following revelations the park was considered as a development site for the Bassendean Activity Centre proposal.
At a council meeting last week, Bassendean resident Graeme King said he obtained the minutes of the Town’s private meetings in February 2014 with LandCorp, government departments and Swan Districts Football Club through a Freedom of Information request.
According to Mr King, the documents show Christie Park on Briggs Street was considered as a potential development site of the Bassendean Activity Centre proposal, which currently includes Bassendean Oval and the Wilson Street carpark.
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READ NOWMayor John Gangell confirmed this but said Council did not support the idea.
Mr King said the meetings went for four years and the Town was asked to investigate other land options, which they could contribute towards the LandCorp development.
He said according to the minutes, Christie Park was offered to LandCorp as a development option by the Town of Bassendean for $1.
At the meeting last week, Town of Bassendean chief executive Bob Jarvis said the park was never discussed for that price.
Councillors then voted against an option to keep the park zoned as residential and instead reserved it for recreation.
Mr King said endorsing Christie Park for recreation was a good outcome for the community.
LandCorp general manager metropolitan and industrial John Hackett could not reveal reasons why Christie Park was rejected.
Mr Hackett said various land options were investigated during the initial feasibility stages and the State Government and Town of Bassendean’s focus was only on the land identified in the Bassendean Town Centre Strategy.