Perth Voice Interactive

A SEVEN-storey, $30 million development has been approved for Oxford Street in Mount Hawthorn after Vincent council’s elected representatives were once again outvoted on the state Joint Development Assessment Panel.

JDAPs were introduced by the former Barnett government to streamline and “depoliticise” high-priced development applications which often provoke local discontent, consisting of five-member panels with two local councillors and three state-appointed members, usually planning experts

Unpopular

The latest project by applicant Redhorn Development Pty Ltd would amalgamate a series of blocks into 36 apartments with four commercial tenancies at ground floor, including a food and beverage offering on the corner with Wilberforce Street.

It’s been unpopular with some locals because Wilberforce Street has been deemed a “character protection area”, meaning a majority of locals supported rules that guide developments to fit with the current low-rise surroundings.

One Wilberforce Street resident local told the November 24 JDAP meeting the project was a “visual abomination” that was “obviously designed without any consideration to the character or the identity of the area”.

Vincent planning staff prepared a report for the JDAP members, recommending refusal in part because the new project would “present a building bulk and development outcome that would result in adverse visual amenity impacts and that would be incompatible with the character of the surrounding residential properties that are located within a character protection area”.

The two Vincent councillors on the JDAP, Jonathan Hallett and Alex Castle, sided with that recommendation and lodged no votes.

Outvoted

But they were outvoted by the appointed members, Francesca Lefante, Lee O’Donohue, and John Syme.

“I really think this is a very well designed building. I think it’s extremely attractive,” Ms O’Donohue said. “I don’t agree that buildings of this kind should be designed to replicate the character areas that they sit next to.

“I just feel that there is sufficient separation provided and we have a unique building that is in no way going to try and blend with what exists in the character residential area, but that will stand out and provide a lot of positives in terms of built form, materials, articulation, and a range of facilities on the ground floor that will invigorate this part of Oxford Street.”

At the prior JDAP meeting on November 10 Vincent’s two reps, Cr Hallett and Ashley Wallace, were also outvoted when the specialist members approved a drug crisis support centre at 37-43 Stuart Street, Perth.

Another huge decision for Vincent’s future rests in JDAP hands at the upcoming November 30 meeting, the day after the Voice goes to print. 

Celsius Development is asking for approval for revised plans for its Fitzgerald Street project.

Celsius initially proposed a 16-storey apartment block in an area council rules limit to six storeys.

They trimmed a few levels off, but in December 2022 a 13-storey version with 97 apartments was rejected by the JDAP.

The latest design is nine storeys.

Mayor Alison Xamon is planning to attend the meeting to urge the DAP to vote against the proposal, arguing the plan doesn’t fit with the desired future scale and character of the North Perth town centre.

by DAVID BELL