South Perth: high rise tower on Mill Point Road rejected for fourth time

HILLAM Architects’ third high-rise development for the South Perth peninsula was shot down last week.

Following mediation with the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), plans for the 29-storey tower at 72-74 Mill Point Road returned to the Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) for reconsideration.

In March, the original plans for a 36-storey tower were rejected by the panel on the grounds that it did not satisfy vehicle management standards and offered inadequate community benefits to permit the extent of the discretion being sought in relation to height.

Despite the newly amended plans showing the number of residential apartments reduced from 112 to 89, the number of serviced apartments reduced from 18 to 16 and the addition of a community gymnasium and health spa to address prior concerns, the panel voted 3-2 to again reject the development.

Panel president Charles Johnson said the panel was still of the view that a 76m bonus height was outside the scope of what was appropriate for the Mends Street sub-precinct.

This is the fourth set of plans by Hillam Architects and Edge Visionary Living, ranging from 29 storeys to 43 storeys, to be refused for this site.

On June 18 the architect also had 31-storey tower on Melville Parade rejected and in May a 43-storey building on Lyall Street rejected on similar grounds.