A 91-apartment seven-storey complex in Jindalee has been approved despite residents’ concerns about traffic, building height and a lack of community amenities.
The $60 million development is proposed on the corner of Jindalee Boulevard and Maritime Drive in the Jindalee Coastal Village precinct.
It received 100 objections and eight submissions in support when it was advertised for public comment.
Three residents echoed these objections at the Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel meeting on October 13 and urged members to vote against the development.
Jindalee resident Shirley Slade argued the building did not comply with an agreed structure plan, which had a maximum building height of five storeys, 18.5m for walls and 23.5m for roofs.
The apartment complex has a 22.42m tall wall and a roof height of 23.23m.
Members of the panel and Ben Carter, representing the applicant, Pinnacle Planning, said the slope of the site would make the building sit lower and have less impact on neighbouring properties.
Residents also raised concerns about traffic from other developments in the area and argued the cumulative impact had not been adequately assessed.
The lack of public spaces was also a cause for concern.
They also said the shadow it cast could deter business and people from using nearby areas.
“Assessing each of these developments in isolation fails to address the cumulative pressure on our narrow local roads, parking, pedestrian safety, and coastal access,” Ms Slade said.
“I also question the community benefit in departing from the agreed planning limits … Once approved and constructed, the additional height, traffic pressures and lack of amenities cannot be simply reversed.”
Mr Carter argued the building would provide benefits to the community, such as the continuation of the footpath network along the western boundary.
“We actually support the coastal village with this development by placing the bulk further away, as far away as possible, 48m from the eastern boundary,” he said.
“We do believe that we’ve made some conscious decisions to assist with mitigating the impacts of the development.”
The panel unanimously approved the development.
City of Wanneroo councillors and panel members Eman Seif and Jacqueline Huntley moved the proposal be approved.
“Where an application complies, refusing it on grounds that won’t stand up isn’t protecting you as residents and the process to review at a State tribunal — the outcome could be worse for the community,” Cr Huntley said.
“So ultimately, we will be looking closely at the construction management, the traffic, the privacy, and everything.
“If there are problems, we will solve them as they occur. There isn’t a provision for us to refuse this application at this stage, so I’m actually in support of it.”