Commercial developments cause Yanchep residents concern over laneway traffic

YANCHEP residents are concerned a lane built behind homes to access commercial developments will not be able to handle the amount of traffic generated.

Emily Batchelor said Ikara Lane, which ran beside a fuel station, medical centre, storage units and two undeveloped lots, was not built to minimum design standards.

“I have genuine concern for the safety of road users, pedestrians, patrons of businesses within the subdivision, and residents who live on Avon Road,” she said.

Plans for a development at 5 Ikara Lane, which includes a pizza store, shops, an office and a childcare centre, recently went out for public consultation.

City of Wanneroo planning and sustainability director Mark Dickson said the City received two submissions during public consultation in June, with one representing 18 owners or residents.

Mr Dickson said the $1.5 million development application would be considered by the council at a date yet to be determined.

“The City is still working with the applicant to obtain additional information, including revised plans,” he said.

Mrs Batchelor said residents whose properties backed onto the lane wanted a traffic study done to show the impact all the developments would have.

“Ikara Lane is not equipped to handle the volume of traffic that this subdivision will produce,” she said.

“Residents of Avon Road deserve to have the problem looked at by the appropriate professionals and we request independent civil engineering expertise.”

Mr Dickson said Ikara Lane was not a formal laneway but common property providing access to the blocks fronting Yanchep Beach Road.

As a result, he said it was not assigned a road type, function or vehicle capacity but was estimated to accommodate up to 3000 vehicles a day.

“The proposed development is estimated to generate around 694 vehicle movements per day,” he said.

“The access easement was originally approved through subdivision at the request of the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.”

A traffic and parking assessment submitted with the application for 5 Ikara Lane said the proposed development was forecast to generate about 694 vehicle movements per day.

“During the peak periods a maximum attraction of 78 vehicles is expected,” it said.

“Analysis of the peak period traffic demands indicates that no material traffic impact would be caused by the proposed development.”

Mr Dickson said a restrictive covenant prevented access between the commercial properties and Yanchep Beach Road.

Mrs Batchelor said the local structure plan did not show a road, and nearby residents may not have bought their blocks if they had known it would be built.