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Capricorn clears the air

Lucy Jarvis, North Coast TimesNorth Coast Times

In a letter to Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts, Capricorn Investment Group (CIG) director Norman Smorgon said recent statements about his company, a partner in Capricorn Village Joint Venture, being the only landowner opposing the playing fields were ‘categorically incorrect’.

Earlier this year, Butler MLA John Quigley spoke in State Parliament and at residents’ meetings, about a developer that had not shown support for the City using developer contributions to refund Yanchep Beach Joint Venture for early provision of the playing fields.

‘All landowners including CIG are supportive of the early delivery of the Yanchep open space,’ Mr Smorgon said in his letter.

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He said the landowners had given in principle support of the compensation proposal, only if the playing fields were in excess of the 10 per cent developers must give up free of cost for public open space.

‘It remains a significant concern that it is unclear whether the land is in public open space, or whether it is totally or partially within the 10 per cent allocation,’ Mr Smorgon said.

‘This would seem to be because the structure plan approvals for the land in question are either not finalised or are inconclusive.

‘Once the question of public open space is finally determined, all landowners will be in a position to adopt a final view.’

Mrs Roberts said since receiving the letter, Mr Smorgon had clarified that the statements and publicity mentioned were not attributed to the City of Wanneroo, but did not comment further.

At the last Wanneroo Council meeting, elected members voted to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers, assisted by Neil Douglas of McLeods, Barristers and Solicitors, to undertake the internal audit of processes, procedures and policies that guided decisions related to the playing fields negotiations.