Perth Voice Interactive

A FORMER drug rehabilitation site in Mount Lawley that has sat empty for over two years while local and state governments clashed over its future may finally be redeveloped.

At the core of the stoush was the WA government’s push to rezone the Field Street site R60, meaning a three-storey building with 20 apartments was on the cards. Some locals and Stirling council thought that density was overkill.

“Medium density”

But Mt Lawley Labor MP Simon Millman says he’s held meetings with local residents and they now “agree that the site is well-suited to a medium density development…they just wanted to make sure the established trees on the site are protected”.

Mr Millman expressed particular gratitude for “the submissions from the Mount Lawley Society which demonstrated a pragmatic approach to increasing density in our community”, calling it a “win-win result for the community”.

State planning minister Rita Saffioti noted the development supported “the state government priority of increasing the number of homes close to…high proximity public transport”.

She said there is still a need to “manage the interface with the adjoining residential areas to ensure the future development is in keeping with the character of the area.”

Stirling’s Beaufort Street Strategy identifies the Beaufort Street corridor as an area “with high frequency public transport with significant opportunities for high density housing.”

by JUSTIN STAHL