Rezoning to allow 50 home sites

Development on one of Bunbury’s biggest vacant blocks of land could be a step closer with Bunbury City Council expected to endorse rezoning plans.

The Catholic Diocese of Bunbury has plans to subdivide its lot at Parade Road, Tuart Brook, near Centenary Road, to make way for more than 50 houses.

The development would be the first on the almost 60ha site.

While the council looks set to approve zoning amendments for the development, it is expected to ask the diocese to review its proposed Development Contribution Plan, which has raised concerns among landowners.

A contribution plan, which sets out costs for landowners in the estate to cover infrastructure such as parks and roads, has been drafted on behalf of the diocese.

Under the plan, the estate is divided into four “developable” areas with the proposed contribution as high as $165,235 per ha.

The proposal, along with environmental issues, raised concerns during public consultation.

Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said the Development Contribution Plan was a “work in progress” and did not rule out the high costs proposed on landowners was a major factor in asking the diocese to review the plan.

“Our officers have consulted with other property owners and some of them had issues with it,” Mr Brennan said.

“Our officers will go back and consider that now fully.”

He said the diocese’s plans to subdivide and provide about 57 new homes in Bunbury was important and the community could be confident the council was making sure environmental protocols were being followed.

“It provides more choice for people to live in Bunbury and is also a rate base boost once fully developed,” Mr Brennan said.

“I think everybody is on the same page with respect to environmental matters — it’s an important part of the Five Mile Brook water course and it’s important to reserve the land.”

The council will vote on the proposals at next week’s meeting.