THE State Government may face another fight with western suburbs residents who are upset by new demands for more housing.
They say there are no plans to upgrade roads to deal with the resulting congestion.
At Claremont council last Tuesday, about 12 ratepayers opposed the WA Planning Commission’s (WAPC) draft structure plan increasing residents from 454 to potentially 1675 up to 400m from the Loch Street Railway Station.
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READ NOWThe WAPC is also battling neighbouring Nedlands residents and their council about more proposed densities in some locations not included in the City’s draft planning scheme last year.
In Claremont, proposed densities up to R80 and five storeys in the draft structure plan could enter the town’s planning scheme if it is approved by the WAPC, because the council has limited power in the process.
Last year, public comment generated 76 submissions, including 40 concerned about greater congestion, while other issues included density (31), build heights (16), parking (13) and heat islands (8).
There was support for the draft plan improving nearby Ashton Avenue shops and suggestions a decision be postponed until an approval or refusal of the two-year-old redevelopment request by the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) to partially redevelop the Claremont Showground.
Claremont resident Peter Metcalf said a long-delayed underpass or bridge between the north end of Loch Street and the south end of Brockway Avenue had to be considered to stop the snarls on adjacent Chancellor Street.
After delaying a decision because of RAS and Department of Communities plans for the precinct, councillors agreed to propose changes to the WAPC’s draft that reduced potential residents to 1269 and cut building heights and densities at seven sites.
The changes were opposed by Department of Communities representative Richard Elliott who said the council’s traffic assessment was “fundamentally flawed”.
Mayor Jock Barker said it was better to engage with the Government because it had the decision-making powers.
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