Planning Minister John Day, Cottesloe Mayor Jo Dawkins and Premier Colin Barnett. d423462
Camera IconPlanning Minister John Day, Cottesloe Mayor Jo Dawkins and Premier Colin Barnett. d423462 Credit: Supplied/Bruce Hunt

Council designs on beach plan

Staff ReporterWestern Suburbs Weekly

‘Their experienced and constructive comments are helpful to the council when assessing development applications for important or large projects where we believe their expertise may achieve a better result for the development and for the town,’ Mayor Jo Dawkins said.

After 10 years of public argument, developers’ lobbying and Government alterations, Local Planning Scheme No.3 (LPS3) allows six storeys for Il Lido Restaurant owners John and Alan McGillivray and eight levels for Ocean Beach Hotel owners Stan and Murray Quinlivan, and up to five setback levels between the prime sites.

However, WA’s new planning regime allows developers to send projects worth more than $7 million to a five-member Development Assessment Panel (DAP).

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‘I would like to think that good design would come through the council, and be endorsed,’ Mrs Dawkins said when asked how her council and residents would not be overruled by the DAP or the Government.

Chief executive Carl Askew said while LPS3 had basic planning limits and guidelines, expertise on ‘the finer details of urban design and architectural outcomes’ was held by the DAP, and in Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority participation in the beachfront suggested by Premier Colin Barnett last week.

Keep Cott Low President John Hammond said there was nothing to stop a ’tilt-up concrete and glass’ wall on Marine Parade.

‘When the first application for high-rise is lodged, residents will still object and take their complaint to the Government, rather than the local council,’ he said.

After discussing advisory architects’ role with Mrs Dawkins, Planning Minister John Day said developers should work with the council to develop their designs.

Asked about preventing tilt-up, he said LPS3 had provisions for ‘good design’ and the council and its advisors had key roles.

The DAP would be the decision maker, unless Mr Day makes a submission if a DAP decision is appealed to the State Administrative Tribunal.

If a design was ‘completely inappropriate’ he said he could resort to ‘calling it in’ to his office.

Smithy’s View and Opinion page 10.