Perth Voice Interactive

PLANS for a $9 million development on Angove Street have been stymied by the Vincent development assessment panel, which wants a smaller building. Owner Luke Saraceni watched from the public gallery as the DAP deferred its decision, pending the submission of scaled down plans. It’s a smaller project than Mr Saraceni is used to dealing with—the Raine Square redevelopment he lost to Bankwest was around $500million—but it’s likely to shrink further still if it’s to get the nod, with the DAP wanting either a storey lopped off, the upper level set back or less bulk. The corner spot on Fitzgerald Street—currently a car yard—is described as an iconic site. Mayor John Carey says the six-storey shops and apartment proposal threatens to dwarf the low-lying retail spirit of surrounding Angove Street. The council has no say in the plans, which went straight to the DAP (which has on it two elected councillors on it and three government-appointed panellists). The Saracenis’ planning rep Ben Doyle complained to the DAP he’d been given the runaround by Vincent’s planning staff. “The advice we were provided by the city’s officers is that six storeys in this area may be acceptable,” he said, but that was “repeatedly contradicted” by the report planning staff then wrote. He described parts of the report as being “disingenuous,” and “inflammatory,” and accused it had “misrepresented some issues”, making it sound like he didn’t understand the planning process. “The officer’s report is not fair and balanced,” he said, adamant more density is needed in major corridors to meet WA government targets. “Thanks for the lecture, Ben,” Mr Carey replied. “The City of Vincent is supportive of high density along our corridors. We are meeting our targets for high density, so I don’t need a lecture from [Mr Doyle’s company] on this. I cannot in goodwill support this project which I think is overbulked in relation to Angove Street.” The redrawn draft will be presented to the DAP by October. by DAVID BELL