Perth Voice Interactive

FORMER Labor MP Stephen Smith has joined locals in their fight to stop a seven-unit complex being built near his dad’s house in Mt Lawley.

Mr Smith’s elderly father, Les, has lived in the neighbourhood for 46 years and shares neighbours’ concerns the Central Avenue development lacks parking (nine bays are mooted) and will mar the federation-era streetscape, which is inside Stirling’s heritage protection zone.

The former defence minister has contacted Stirling city council to ask why his dad didn’t receive a letter during community consultation. In fact, just three homeowners were notified.

Petition

Regan Whitby lives next door to the 898sqm site and has created a petition opposing it.

“The balconies will look directly into my back garden and I will lose all privacy—I will have no choice but to sell up,” he says.

“All the cars will be funnelling down the side of my house to park as well.

“A real estate agent told me the value of my house, built in 1928, will fall by $200,000 if the development goes ahead.

“The budget for the development is only $900,000 and it will be done in a mock-federation style—it will look cheap and not in keeping with the historic feel of this area.”

The site is beside the busy Clifton Crescent intersection, which has raised concerns about traffic safety.

“The single entrance/exit for the development will be on Central Avenue just before the intersection,” worried neighbour Karen Baldacci says.

“That intersection is a real black spot and a few years ago we submitted a petition to get it made safer.

“I can only see this making matters worse.”

Developer Sabby Pizzolante concedes he should have consulted with Mr Whitby sooner about his plans to demolish the house and replace it with the seven-unit, two-storey development.

“In hindsight I should have gone to him earlier and we could have avoided some of these issues,” he says.

“But you have to bear in mind that one side of my house backs onto a commercial deli, on the corner, and we are on a wide arterial road.

“The house I am demolishing is from the 1960s and the newer building will actually have more federation-style features than the original.”

Stirling council is preparing to vote on the application.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK