Perth Voice Interactive

The long-empty Greater Union cinema on Murray Street will be turned into a 21-storey hotel and office block after the plan won the thumbs-up from the Perth development assessments panel.

Perth city councillor Rob Butler voted with unelected panellists Brian Curtis and Rory O’Brien to approve the project.

The proposed tower had drawn criticism from residents living in the swank neighbouring Equus apartment block.

Glen McLeod represented Equus residents and told the DAP that just because they’d chosen to live in the city didn’t mean they’d given up all right to amenity.

He said the corner development by Amalgamated Holdings Limited would leave some apartments permanently in the shade. But PCC planning staffers said any compliant building was bound to leave some neighbouring apartments in permanent shadow, and the Equus architect was well aware of that when they built the units. The design was described as a “good response” for the corner site. As DAP members approved the project an Equus resident muttered the process was a “crock of shit”.

by DAVID BELL