Plans unveiled for development of former Atlantis Marine Park

FUTURE development of Two Rocks was the focus of a recent residents’ meeting as presenters outlined plans to build a retirement complex behind the King Neptune statue.

City of Wanneroo planning and sustainability director Mark Dickson and Fini Group representative Michael Bower talked about plans for the former Atlantis Marine Park site at the Two Rocks Yanchep Residents Association meeting on April 24.

A local development plan out for public consultation until May 11 covers the northeast corner of Fini Group’s 17ha landholding.

Mr Dickson said the broader district structure plan for Yanchep and Two Rocks showed the development would cater for a population that would grow to about 220,000 people.

“Growth is coming, growth is going to happen,” he said.

“The character of Two Rocks as it is at the moment won’t stay the same over time.”

Mr Dickson said the town centre would become a district centre, with a larger secondary centre proposed farther inland.

“At the moment within Two Rocks there is about 2000sq m of retail space – what is allowed for is 11,000sq m,” he said.

He said the developer’s landholding was zoned for commercial and mixed use, allowing businesses, shops and some residential development.

“We are midway through the planning stages,” he said.

“That document is required… before development actually occurs on the ground.”

Mr Dickson said the City had invited submissions on the plan submitted by the developer and staff would assess those before preparing a report to present to the council in June or July.

The plan indicates what would be allowed on the site, such as buildings up to five storeys in the R80-zoned section, but does not include detailed design of the actual structures.

Mr Bower said Fini Group was working with a large WA retirement operator on the proposal, which would include a range of housing styles.

“This is what we hope will be the first stage of the development,” he said.

“It’s been difficult to make a start. To start this development we have to have a lot of confidence that we are going to be able to continue.

“We are really keen to see something happen in the town centre (and) we are hoping for some support that will enable this plan to take place.

“When you look at the way the town centre is now, that’s not really what it is likely to look like in 10 years’ time.”

Association president Peter Wimsett asked the developer to provide a three-dimensional model of the proposed buildings to help residents understand the scale of the project.

Mr Dickson said the Water Corporation’s wastewater treatment facility on the private land would be decommissioned after it built a new one in Charnwood Reserve.

“When that is ultimately constructed, the wastewater from this development and surrounding areas will be pumped into that and then down to the Alkimos Wastewater Treatment Plant,” he said.

Association member Ed Whitchurch said residents appreciated that the developer was keeping the King Neptune statue, which will be part of a public open space link between Lisford Avenue and Enterprise Drive.