FREMANTLE council’s planning committee says it doesn’t like supermarket giant Aldi’s plans for Hilton, but the ultimate decision rests with a panel of mostly unelected appointees.

Wednesday’s committee recommended rejection of Aldi’s application on the basis it faces the supermarket away from South Street, scotching long-term plans to create a community hub.

While the committee’s recommendation will now go to council, the ultimate decision-making power lies with the development assessment panel: three of its five members were appointed by the Barnett government.

The council received 82 submissions about the development: just 23 support Aldi while 59 cite concerns about traffic, the streetscape and car parking. There was also a 462-signature petition of opposition.

The chair of the council’s design advisory committee, architect Geoffrey London, also weighed in:

“… I have a fundamental concern about the placement of the building on the site and the location of the back of house facilities to form almost the full South Street elevation, denying any effective relationship between the interior of the building and the street.”

by STEVE GRANT