North Coogee holiday home given 12-month trial by council

NORTH Coogee has been added alongside Margaret River, Pemberton and Dunsborough on the list of places to rent a holiday home in WA after the City of Cockburn moved to allow one to operate in the coastal suburb.

The City first became aware a two-storey, terrace style house on Perlinte View was being used for short-term accommodation in June 2015, despite the property owner failing to secure the relevant approvals from the local council.

Attempts by the owner to do so fell flat in December, with concerns over noise, parking issues and fears it would set a precedent lacking strategic co-ordination.

But a fresh proposal put forward by Rowe Group’s Camille Clark, on behalf of the property owner and following mediation, was agreed to by council as a 12-month trial and with a number of restrictions.

The City’s retrospective change of use from single house to holiday home limits the number of guests to four and restricts the number of guest vehicles to two.

Guests must stay for a minimum of four nights.

Two visitors can be on the premise at any one time, although no visitors are permitted between 10pm and 8am.

Security cameras will also be installed.

Ms Clarke said modifications to the property management plan would limit the intensity of the proposed use to something expected from an average house.

“Given that our client elected to go to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) to have the opportunity to mediate with the City and given the changes proposed within the management plans, they are clearly serious about ensuring their proposal will not adversely impact the amenity of the locality and will be compatible with its residential nature,” she said.

City officers had recommended council again refuse the proposal, with Deputy Mayor Carol Reeve-Fowkes also speaking against it.

“Our officers, who are our experts, were very clear that this does not represent proper and orderly planning,” she said.

“This area was planned as a residential estate, not a holiday let.

“It’s unfair to the residents who bought there in good faith to now move the goalposts on them and accept a holiday let and the consequences and the complaints that might arise there after.”

But Ms Clarke did find support from councillor Kevin Allen.

“I think we should give it a go,” he said.

“The owner of this property could go back to SAT or rent it out long term and the consequences of that to the adjoining landowners could be even worse.

“This has already gone through mediation and it’s being sent back to council to make a decision.

“The message there is ‘make a decision or we will’.”