Drovers Place plan tweaked

FURTHER changes proposed for the Drover’s place precinct’s structure plan will be considered by the Wanneroo City Council tonight.

A report to council said amendment five would change objectives in the plan to “better respond to ongoing planning” of the area.

Other changes include increasing the range of land uses that can be approved in the central precinct as well as the maximum showroom floor space for Lot 1 and 132.

It would introduce a requirement for the landowner of Lot 1 and 132, Lakewide, to enter into an agreement to share the cost of the design and construction of a four-way signalised intersection at Wanneroo Road and Clarkson Avenue with the City of Wanneroo and Main Roads WA. But at last week’s briefing, planning and sustainability director Philip St John told council they did not support the City wearing the cost of the intersection and “recommended against that part”.

The report said it was not clear how much the landowner should contribute and how the remaining costs would be covered.

Five written submissions were received by the City when advertised from December to February, with those objecting concerned about the viability of nearby centres and impacts on other landowners in the precinct.

Plan amendments three and four were considered by council last year which the report said were currently “subject to ongoing proceedings at the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT)” following its decision.

In a written submission prior to last week’s briefing, Wanneroo MLA Paul Miles questioned how many times the City’s planning department had been taken to SAT in the last year, by who and at what cost to the City.

The City said 13 applications for review had been lodged at the SAT over that time and as of March 18, about $65,000 had been spent on external legal experts on applications affecting the Drovers precinct.