Mayoral candidates reveal opinions on Nedlands peak issues

CITY planning, heritage preservation and the Captain Stirling Hotel site are among the peak issues raised by residents ahead of elections.

Western Suburbs Weekly posed the top three issues raised to all mayoral candidates but only two of three – Max Hipkins and Cilla de Lacy – responded.

Nedlands’ 34-year-old town planning scheme was replaced in February, with planned residential density around transport areas, including the Dalkeith neighbourhood centre on Waratah Avenue, sections of Stirling Highway, UWA and QEII.

Current Hollywood ward councillor Ms de Lacy said she believed the City could have engaged more with the community during consultation on the planning scheme (LPS3).

“Importantly, what I have learnt about planning and infrastructure is that it is about putting the people first,” she said.

“Our council must focus its efforts on strategic planning to ensure we manage the implementation of LPS3 in our City in a way that respects the character of Nedlands that we all love and treasure.”

Mr Hipkins, who is the current mayor, said the City was looking at how new developments could transition into existing areas of single family houses.

When it comes to heritage in Nedlands, Mr Hipkins said within the past 12 months the City had introduced incentives to retain heritage places, including maintenance grants and waiving fees.

Ms de Lacy said if she was elected Mayor, she hoped to continue to deliver the protection of treed streetscapes.

“The treed streetscapes are a valuable part of Nedlands’ character and are the reason I led a community campaign to lobby State Government to deliver underground power at a fair price in Hollywood,” she said.

There has also been talk about the future of the Captain Stirling Hotel site and the proposed Nedlands square development.

The City is yet to consider a development application for Nedlands Square, which includes a new dining precinct around a town square.

Ms de Lacy said the focus for the Captain Stirling site should be on bringing the hotel back to life.

Mr Hipkins said although the City had twice rejected applications for Woolworths’ Nedlands Square development, the City’s committee team had been investigating for four years how to accommodate the project.