Bellevue: JDAP rejects proposal to demolish Darling Range Hotel

A PROPOSAL to demolish the Darling Range Hotel in Bellevue and build a service station in its place has been refused by a Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP).

The Metro East JDAP met on Thursday to decide on the development application, which had attracted more than 200 objections from the community.

The decision was split into two parts: one for the demolition of the Darling Range Hotel building and another to build a service station in its place.

City of Swan officers had recommended both applications be denied.

Both proposals for the site, located at the corner of Great Eastern Highway and Horace Street, were deemed inappropriate by the panel on several grounds.

Considered contrary to the objectives of the ‘General Commercial’ zone to which the land is proposed to be rezoned under Amendment no. 122 to the City of Swan Local Planning Scheme No 17.

The applications also failed to recognise the significant heritage and social values of the hotel building the applicant sought to demolish.

Three out of the five panellists, including presiding member Eugene Koltasz and Swan councillors Darryl Trease and Maria Haynes, voted to reject the proposal based on these reasons.

Mayor Mick Wainwright said the City of Swan community had demonstrated its passion and interest on the topic.

“Panellists heard deputations from several community members, highlighting the building’s cultural and historical value,” he said.

“There were also concerns that a service station would be against the existing plans for the area and suggestions such a development could cause traffic problems.”

The City of Swan had previously identified this pocket of Bellevue as an ideal location for a future neighbourhood centre in its Bellevue East Land Use Study.

The proposed service station had the potential to prejudice the development of the site as a future neighbourhood hub or shopping centre for the growing area of Bellevue.