Perth Voice Interactive

DOZENS of Bayswater locals are fighting to save two century-old heritage buildings from demolition.

Resident Jacquie Kelly has launched a petition asking councillors to block plans for a seven-storey apartment complex at 9–11 King William Street.

The council approved demolition in February — requiring just the facade to be kept — but residents aren’t giving up.

“[Demolition] should not have been granted with so little consideration of heritage value or referral, and no public consultation,” says Ms Kelly, who failed last weekend in her attempt to be elected to the council’s north ward (Brent Fleeton took the spot, edging out incumbent Mike Anderton by 41 votes).

Ms Kelly says the proposed complex doesn’t suit the ”village” style of the city centre and sets a bad precedent.

Monica Main, who can see the site from her house, says people like the area for its old buildings.

“Why can’t we celebrate that?” she asks.

Both doomed buildings — a red brick cottage and streetfront shop last occupied two years ago as a cafe, but first built as McLeish’s Grain Store — were built in 1905 by prominent builder Henry Halliday and are on the council’s heritage trail.

Town planning academic and local resident Greg Smith says the proposed development does nothing to complement the site’s heritage.

“We want development, but we want it right,” he says. “They’ve dumped this public toilet on us.”

He suggests a three-storey development, keeping more features intact, would be better.

An October 13 council report says 48 people objected to the plan, five supported it and eight others had reservations.

Complaints include: it’s too high and will dwarf neighbouring buildings, there’s a shortfall in parking and it’ll exacerbate parking issues.

New councillor Brent Fleeton is a vocal supporter of development: in his nomination form, he said, “I want development of our suburbs to be welcomed, not delayed by pressure groups”.

He failed to respond to the Voice’s call about his stance on this development.

Cr Stephanie Coates says plans are yet to be tabled at a development assessment panel meeting — the decision isn’t made by the elected council.

Yolk Property Group director Pete Adams says his company has played by the rules and everything is in order: “We have been working closely with the City of Bayswater for over 12 months and have adhered to all of their requests,” he says. “We are approachable and willing to listen to the concerns of residents.”

He didn’t say when the buildings would come down but the project is scheduled for completion early 2017.

by EMMIE DOWLING