The Water Corporation property on Hickory Road, Quinns Rocks.
Camera IconThe Water Corporation property on Hickory Road, Quinns Rocks. Credit: Supplied/Martin Kennealey

Quinns Rocks: only six submissions object to proposed rezoning on Hickory Rd

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

SIX submissions received during a public comment period object to proposed rezoning of a former water tower site in Quinns Rocks.

A report due to be considered by the City of Wanneroo council on Tuesday said the City received nine submissions regarding rezoning the Hickory Road site from public use to residential during the January-February consultation period.

Six of those objected to the proposal to rezone the Water Corporation’s 2753sq m site and the May 9 report recommends the council support the rezoning the land with an R20 coding.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

One of the submissions raised concerns that development on the site would result in houses overlooking adjacent properties if it was not levelled, but the City’s response said staff would assess levels when subdivision and building applications were lodged.

Another objected to the proposed density of housing on the site.

“Quinns Rocks is not a suburb that should be ruined by this type of development or high density,” he said.

“The residents who have purchased in this locality have done so they have space around them and not be built out to split blocks and multiple dwellings on 1000sq m blocks.”

The City’s response said the density was consistent with the rest of the suburb, where R20 coding allows a minimum block size of 350sq m.

The submitter also said the site, which is adjacent to Driftwood Park, should be retained as public open space.

“This last piece of open space in old Quinns is important and should be retained,” he said.

“This open space is utilised by many locals for its views.

“Residents and children utilise the space for recreation purposes as it is close to homes and it is a safe location.”

In response, the City’s administration said the State Government-owned land was never intended for public open space; the water tower that previously sat on the hilltop was dismantled in 2012.

“Given that this is now surplus land, the Department of Lands is proposing to develop the site to allow for additional housing,” the response said.

In its submission, LandCorp said it supported a higher density coding to allow more infill, but administration said an R40 coding was “not in keeping with the locality”.

“It is considered that the most appropriate zoning for the subject site is residential with a density code of R20,” the report said.

UPDATE, MAY 12: THE Wanneroo City Council supported rezoning Water Corporation’s Hickory Road landholding in Quinns Rocks to residential with an R20 coding this week.

Councillors unanimously supported the recommendation without discussion on May 9 and noted the City would forward the district planning scheme amendment to the WA Planning Commission.

The amendment will allow housing development to occur on the 2753sq m former water tower site.