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Contribution plan comes under fire

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

Wanneroo City Council adopted the developer contribution plans for Alkimos-Eglinton and Yanchep-Two Rocks at the April 28 council meeting.

Fees were set at $2070 per dwelling in Yanchep and Two Rocks, and $111,107 per hectare in Alkimos and Eglinton.

Giving a deputation before the meeting, Yanchep Beach Joint Venture economic development manager Jon Kelly said the name "developer contribution plan" was misleading because developers would pass the cost on to buyers.

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"It's a contribution made by the new home owner who buys in the area," he said.

Mr Kelly said rather than the council borrowing funds to build facilities, buyers would have higher home loans so it would "shift the borrowing from council to future generations".

He said it could raise issues with housing affordability.

The report to the council outlined eight submissions made by developers, with revised calculations and fees based on their feedback.

Mr Kelly said the existing population in the Yanchep and Two Rocks area should be acknowledged, as it would use the proposed facilities.

He said the plan lacked endorsed concept plans, and he questioned the estimated administrative costs of more than $1 million over the Yanchep-Two Rocks plan's 10-year lifespan.

Moving the recommendation, Councillor Linda Aitken said finalising the developer contributions plan would allow the City to move forward with the "long overdue" Yanchep playing fields.

Cr Dianne Guise said she had been horrified by the $7297 fee per lot touted when the plan came to the council in December, and the revised amount was a better outcome for housing affordability.

"They get passed on to people out there who want to buy and have their dream of owning their own home," she said.

Cr Guise said establishing an advisory committee would provide a "transparent and open process".

Cr Bob Smithson said the committee meeting at least three times a year would give parties on both sides of the fence opportunities to see how well the plan was going.

The funds will be used to build three facilities in Yanchep over the next decade, and 11 in Alkimos-Eglinton within the next 25 years.