Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has accepted a recommendation made by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) to not proceed with the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) amendment to enable a marina to be built at Point Peron.
The proposed amendment sought to rezone parts of Point Peron reserve in the City of Rockingham to facilitate the development of a marina.
It also included other land use proposals around the marina such as tourism, commercial, public open space and residential.
In September 2017, the Western Australian Planning Commission considered the MRS amendment for the Mangles Bay Marina proposal, and resolved to not support the amendment for final approval.
When considering the proposed MRS amendment, the Minister for Planning accepted the Commission’s reasons for withdrawal including:
- The proposed scale of the development is large compared to the overall Point Peron reserve; and
- The Rockingham Lakes Regional Park, including Lake Richmond, is an important link in a series of reserves.
A total of 496 submissions were received, with 403 from nearby suburbs and objecting to the proposed amendment. Non-supportive submissions raised issues with the environment, loss of recreational space, non-compliance with WAPC policies, regional road impacts, the scale and mix of land uses, and land tenure arrangements.
Key environmental approvals for the proposal had been granted at both State and Federal levels.
Ms Saffioti was mindful of the scale of the proposed marina development but found that, as Minister, she did not have the ability to amend the advertised proposal to an extent that might be sought.
Accordingly, the Minister has determined that the proposed amendment should be withdrawn. The Commission’s Report on Submissions, including the full WAPC recommendation can be found at http://www.planning.wa.gov.au
As the proposal was a joint venture between Landcorp and Cedar Woods, the State Government will need to ascertain the commercial and financial implications of the decision.
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