Development is given green light

The first development on one of Bunbury’s last remaining greenfield sites has been given the tick of approval despite more than an hour of debate and several deputations from concerned residents.

Bunbury City Council was hit with seven deputations on Tuesday night over final approval of rezoning amendments to allow a residential development at Tuart Brook, near Parade Road and Washington Avenue.

The endorsement will allow the Catholic Diocese of Bunbury to build its 57-home residential development on the almost 60ha site.

The rezoning also allows for existing and new landowners in the area to subdivide their land if they wish to develop into the future.

Concerns were raised by councillors and residents during the debate over environmental issues and a draft Development Contribution Plan, which has been put together by the church.

The draft plan outlines financial contributions a developer would need to make for new infrastructure in the area as a result of any development.

Paul Barron, who owns a property within the Tuart Brook area, presented one of the deputations claiming the DCP was “unviable” and the costs were too high.

However, the recommendation to the council was only to “note” the draft plan and ask for a review into it.

Cr Michelle Steck echoed Mr Barron’s concerns and told the council the DCP was an “unfair” document and she had “very, very grave concerns” for it.

Sustainability, planning and development manager Thor Farnworth assured councillors a draft of the plan was a formality in beginning development on the land and a stand-alone DCP would come back to the council before being adopted.

Catholic Diocese of Bunbury financial administrator John Ogilvie also presented a deputation saying the church was the “first cab off the rank” to subdivide in the area and was taking the lead on the DCP, but it was open to negotiation and change.

In response to environmental concerns, including the potential removal of up to 45 trees in the area, Mr Farnworth said appropriate environmental assessments had been conducted.