Perth Voice Interactive

LOCALS are trying to raise $20,000 to save this jacaranda from being axed following last week’s approval of divisive plans for a seven-storey apartment complex on Bayswater’s main drag.

Keith Clements is spearheading a campaign to relocate the tree, which is at least 60 years old, from its 9-11 King William Street address to Bert Wright Park, just a few shops down the road.

He’s asked Perth’s Arbor Centre for advice and understands $20,000 will cover the costs: the developer would also need to agree to halt construction work for three months to allow movers to soak roots before the move.

“It’s a beautiful, deciduous tree which is worth saving,” Mr Clements says.

Developer Pete Adams, from Yolk property group, failed to respond to the Voice’s questions.

Five-storey cap

The campaign comes after the metropolitan central development assessment panel last week approved Yolk property group’s $7 million, seven-storey apartment complex at the site — despite the council’s five-storey cap for the area.

The DAP’s three appointed panelists, Charles Johnson, Ian Birch and Luigi D’Alessandro, gave the green light while the two council representatives, Chris Cornish and Terry Kenyon, argued against it.

Cr Cornish warned the DAP against ignoring 600 petitioners and setting a precedent for future development.

Cr Dan Bull, a lawyer, observed the debate and is frustrated by the system.

“It’s a really sad state of affairs,” he says. “We’ve got a panel who’ve used the council’s planning discretions, which are in place for heritage considerations, and applied them erroneously to get this development across the line.”

Mr D’Alessandro also sought but failed to slash the council’s $80,000 parking-in-lieu fee.

Mayor Barry McKenna says the council has not yet discussed what options the council has to stop the development.

In October, the panel rejected Yolk’s initial seven-storey proposal because it was “bulky”, saying five storeys would be better. A tweaked version, with larger setbacks for upper levels and more brick, was tabled following mediation with the state administrative tribunal.

by EMMIE DOWLING