NOT a big fan of the new boat stacker and showroom on Mews Road that blocks views across Fishing Boat Harbour?

It could have been worse, says the WA planning department.

“There are no height limitations for buildings within the harbour,” media officer Jennifer Bassett told the Herald.

The WA planning commission approved the development after running it past Fremantle council two years ago, but Ms Bassett concedes the department never asked locals their views.

“The commercial building is on state-owned land [and] is consistent with the Special Purposes (Harbour) Reservation, so advertising was not required for the development application.”

When the Chook spoke with planning committee chair Robert Fittock two weeks ago, he couldn’t recall the application, but he’s since refreshed his memory.

Cr Fittock now says the application came before the council more than two years ago and met all requirements, so he and his colleagues waved it through.

But “met all requirements” is not strictly correct. The officer’s report noted that under the council’s policy for the harbour the 12-metre boat stacker was above the height permitted along Mews Road.

Despite objections from locals about a loss of views (the council did put it out for comment) the report claimed there would be an impact on views whatever was built.

Despite giving it the green light at the time, Cr Fittock’s not impressed with what has gone up.

“It looks like a monster at the moment,” he told the Herald. “I hope the architecture will soften it. There’s certainly been a lot of judgement from the public about the boat shed, and I’m disappointed by how it looks.”

He denies the council dropped the ball by not  seeking a better outcome.

by STEVE GRANT and LAURA BIRCH