The gum trees at the site.
Camera IconThe gum trees at the site. Credit: Supplied/Derek Brown

Inglewood rezoning rejection a ‘win for the community’

Kate LeaverStirling Times

IT was a “win for the community” when a controversial Inglewood rezoning request was knocked back by City of Stirling councillors last Tuesday night .

Developer TPG requested the City re-zone the Wood Street lot to allow for up to 30 dwellings for a redevelopment that residents said would have reduced green space and trees at the site.

Mt Lawley Society president Paul Collins said rezoning the site, which is part of the Mt Lawley heritage protection area, would have set a precedent for developers and the destruction of green space.

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“This is a win for the community…there are over 40 areas like this in the heritage protection areas of Mt Lawley, Menora and Inglewood,” he said.

Mr Collins said the green space at these 1960s and 1970s multi-dwelling sites was a condition of their approval at the time.

“Green space is a buffer provided and is an important amenity that is increasingly valued,” he said.

“The consistency that the City has shown is really appreciated by the (Mt Lawley) society and the community.”

Inglewood resident of 19 years Derek Smith collected more than 90 signatures for a petition opposing the re-zoning.

“The rear of our property abuts the back of the area and we would have seen seven beautiful gum trees chopped down,” he said.

“We’re very happy with this decision to oppose this.”

Mr Smith said the landowners had already chopped down several trees around the perimeter of the block.

Councillor Karen Caddy said she was “sitting on the fence” with the proposal because council was not actually approving the development application for the site, which would come at a later stage.

“Can I bring councillors back to the fact we are all just discussing rezoning; approval, we can’t preserve trees currently but when an application is submitted we have (more) control,” she said. Cr Samantha Jenkinson said the City needed to get a “wriggle on” with the protection of trees on private land across the whole City.

“There are developers who do things well but just because they do doesn’t mean we should rezone this lot,” she said.

“It would increase the number of dwellings allowed to 30 or allow an uncapped amount which may set a precedent.

“The issue is around tree retention on development sites.”

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