Perth Voice Interactive

THE decrepit block at the corner of Newcastle and Charles Street may finally see a development.

The abandoned garden ornaments centre has been empty for years and is a favourite haunt of urban explorers and graffiti artists.

Various plans have been floated for it over the years: In 2008 a seven-storey office and shop development was approved by Vincent council, but it was never built.

Another plan popped up in 2011 but was withdrawn by the applicant. In 2012 that project’s sign was optimistically pasted over with details of a new development. The six-storey plan was approved by the development asssessment panel, but again, the project went nowhere.

Now, owner Mermaid Towers has put forward a bigger plan for a seven-storey project with offices and 77 units, and on Tuesday the $15 million development was approved by the DAP.

The existing structures, initially built as a caryard in the ‘70s, will be demolished with the Vincent council saying it has “little aesthetic, historic, scientific or social heritage significance”.

by DAVID BELL