MORE than 1300 people will be disappointed by Mandurah council’s decision to allow a bulky goods development to go ahead in Halls Head.
Councillor David Schumacher presented a petition opposing the bulky goods development at Lot 505 Hungerford Avenue to council earlier this month with 1342 residents showing their disapproval.
Under the proposal, a modification will be made to the Halls Head Town Centre Precinct Plan to allow a bulky goods development to go directly behind the current Halls Head Centro Shopping Centre, with Bunnings already stamping their claim.
Councillor Don Pember previously found support to reject the proposal but in a backflip by fellow councillors, just he, Cr Schumacher and Cr Jane Field were left opposing the development when it went to a final vote on Tuesday night.
On top of the petition, council received 57 submissions opposing the development.
Councillor Fred Riebeling said he feared “consequences in other areas” should the proposal not go ahead while Darren Lee said the City’s south was “crying out” for a bulky goods development.
City director for sustainable development Tony Free told councillors there were no other viable options for a bulky goods development further south and Cr Peter Jackson said he supported the proposal given the area was already “a hub of business”.
Cr Schumacher tried to argue the plan did not comply with the City’s Activity Centres Planning Strategy, implemented less than a year ago, but Mr Free said the strategy had a “degree of flexibility” when it was found the Halls Head proposal was not identified in the strategy.
Likening the decision to ‘stretch marks’, Cr Lee said the City needed a “little hurt” to get the best outcome for future growth.
Under the approved plan, approximately 170 residential lots will be created and a modified road network implemented at Old Coast Road, Guava Way and Peelwood Parade.
Speaking at Tuesday’s council meeting, a representative from Bunnings said the approval for a second store in Mandurah would mean the creation of 180 construction jobs and about 130 retail jobs for youth in the region.
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