COMMUNITY opinion was “basically ignored” in the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) officers’ report in regards to Madora Bay North outline development plan (ODP), according to resident Craig Salt.
The report for the March 10 Statutory Planning Committee was released late on Tuesday.
It recommended WAPC approve a modified version of the ODP endorsed unanimously by City of Mandurah councillors in October last year.
The ODP covers an area of about 143 hectares at Lot 101 Mandurah Road, Madora Bay, bound by Singleton and Madora Bay, and seeks to facilitate the development of the site for 1500 residential lots.
Madora Bay and Singleton residents held community information sessions to devise an alternate ODP when it first went to council mid last year.
The council-endorsed ODP was considered by councillors as a compromise between the plan put forward by applicant CLE Town Planning and Design, on behalf of Madora Bay Partnerships, and the one devised by the community.
Mr Salt, who organised the community ODP alternative, said it was a disappointment to see the changes the community had campaigned for had not been included.
“There are four things we’ve wanted from the get-go and all have been diluted in this final step,” he said.
“The town centre is back to being very small and very modest. The ecological transit, which has been an important part for the Singleton residents, has been stripped out.
“The interfaces, which have been a big mess elsewhere in Madora Bay, all have been stripped out.
“And effective traffic management has been stripped out as well.”
Local MP David Templeman said he was outraged by the report and would take actions to try to get an injunction to postpone next Tuesday’s WAPC committee meeting.
“I’m astounded that the report devised by the local planning office is totally reversed from what has been a very involved process and was highly endorsed by the council and the community,” he said. “It seems this report is a rubber stamp of the original put forward by the developers.
“I’m trying to contact the Planning Minster [John Day] today to express my grave concerns which calls into the question the state planning process.”
The community was given six days before the WAPC meets to make their final decision, where there will be no right to appeal.
Mr Salt said the situation raised questions about the state planning process.
“This to me is bigger than Madora Bay North,” he said. “How is it that 100-plus community members can all come together come up with an alternative and then the plan get 13-nil support from council, to have to WAPC turn it all around?
“We’ve found out six days before the plan that is up for final approval is completely different. That’s hardly fair.”
Chris O’Neill, who helped design the community’s alternative ODP, said the officers’ report jailed to address the ecological transit and the coastal village.
“It exhibits an apparent bias in favour of the plan prepared by the developer, and does not afford recognition of the important issues raised by the community and sought to be addressed by the council,” he said.
A spokesperson from the Department of Planning said: "As part of its deliberations, the [committee] will consider all issues raised through the public consultation process for the ODP, along with any other relevant planning considerations".
CLE Town Planning and Design were contacted for comment.
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