WANNEROO councillors will not meet with members of a Gnangara golf club and developers regarding a proposed retirement village.
Nearly 220 people attended a special electors meeting on August 25 and passed a motion requesting councillors and senior City of Wanneroo planning staff meet with attendees, Lakelands Country Club and developer Handle Property Group regarding an application to build the facility on Clubhouse Lane.
A report on the motion was presented at the September 13 council meeting and recommended it was not supported because senior staff had previously met with the applicant and club members and the Council was not the determining authority of the development application.
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READ NOWThe third reason given was that council had “no power to direct the City’s planning officers as to how to exercise professional judgement” in relation to the proposal, which is to be decided by the North-West Metropolitan Development Assessment Panel (DAP).
The report said councillors had not participated in discussions between the City and applicant because it was matter for the panel, despite two councillors forming the five-member group.
“Elected members do not have any involvement with the preparation or direction of the responsible authority report to the DAP or determination of the application,” it said.
“Those elected members who are also members of the DAP are subject to the Planning and Development (Development Assessment Panels) Regulations 2011 and Development Assessment Panel Code of Conduct 2011, and any communications with the applicant are to be in accordance with those requirements.”
Councillors unanimously endorsed the recommendation.