A NINE-STOREY, housing development in Bayswater has been approved despite strong community opposition, with residents accusing the Cook government of ignoring planning guidelines and local concerns.
The social and affordable apartment development at 7-11 King William Street was approved by the Midland Land Redevelopment Committee on August 7, following consideration by DevelopmentWA under the METRONET East Redevelopment Scheme.
The $32 million to $36 million project, proposed by Community Housing Limited, will include 36 one-bedroom and 36 two-bedroom apartments, as well as ground-floor commercial space, funded through a combination of state and federal funding.
The development application was lodged by Community Housing Limited in May.
DevelopmentWA A/CEO Lorissa Kelly said letters were sent to residents and businesses within 200 metres of the development.
The plan received 142 submissions, of which only 20 were in favour of the development and, of those, only 20 per cent were from local residents.
“All submissions received during the public consultation period were reviewed and considered, with amendments made to plans and conditions of approval as appropriate,” A/CEO Kelly said.
The statutory design guidelines for Bayswater Town Centre outline the historical context of the town and say its “village feel” must be maintained through “human scale and street level integration”.
But the planning assessment found the tower could be supported despite departures from some of the guidelines.
The nine-storey building exceeds heights and its tower footprint is larger than the guidelines allow. The applicant argued the proposal would deliver an appropriate planning and design outcome given its location near Bayswater Station and its provision of social and affordable housing. The plan proposes a publicly accessible pocket park and a pedestrian connection between King William Street and the rear lane.
Local resident Edmond Ryder said the “excessive deviation” from the guidelines was a harsh “slap in the face” by East Metronet developers.
Balance
“The guidelines talk to the balance of competing priorities and it’s crazy to step outside of them and just go ‘we’re going to do something completely different’,” Mr Ryder said.
The development’s approval requires further work on matters including stormwater, landscaping, acoustic treatment, heritage, parking and construction management. The developer must also provide a five-star Green Star rating or equivalent and public art, while a building permit from the City of Bayswater is required before construction can begin.
The existing buildings at 9 and 11 King William Street are listed as Category 3 heritage places. The planning report says they are in poor condition and have low integrity because of extensive alterations, and supports their demolition subject to archival recording and heritage interpretation.
Mr Ryder said the Bayswater community wanted the precinct developed but in a way that had a good outcome for everyone.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Mr Ryder said.
“There’s absolutely a balanced outcome that delivers social and affordable housing, allows development to progress and allows the area to be activated,
“It has so much potential. But this is just absolutely ridiculous,” Mr Ryder said.
Local MP and previous Mayor of Bayswater Dan Bull had previously campaigned against proposals on the site for similar reasons to those now being raised by the community, however, he has stayed quiet on the matter.
“Dan has now been muzzled by the Labor caucus, from speaking publicly about the proposal,” Mr Ryder said.
“It’s a real breakdown of democracy; if you just look at what’s happened in Secret Harbour where parties like One Nation are getting up.
“That’s what happens when you ignore the community,” Mr Ryder said.
DevelopmentWA says the Bayswater and High Wycombe precincts were formally brought into the METRONET East redevelopment area in March 2020, with the state subsequently taking responsibility for the planning framework covering the area.
The project is intended to provide social and affordable housing close to public transport, with the planning report saying the state and federal funding arrangements are tied to the agreed mix of 72 dwellings — half one-bedroom and half two-bedroom homes.
by IMOGEN WALSH