MANDURAH councillors have given preliminary refusal to a plan to turn an iconic Halls Head site into another bulky goods development.with residential and aged care facilities included.
Lots 88, 89 and 90 Leisure Way were to be included in the Halls Head Precinct Plan which would allow a substantial portion of the site to be designated 'mixed business', paving the way for a large showroom fronting the Mandurah Road/Old Coast Road intersection.
But councillors agreed with a report entered for Tuesday night's meeting, confirming the proposal does not comply with planning policies and should therefore, be refused.
Mandurah's iconic Fun Park castle still remains at the proposed site with hundreds of residents previously appealing for the building to be salvaged.
Council refused the development last year, citing concerns with the proposed three residential buildings ranging from four to eight storeys, a four-storey aged care hospice with amenities and a bulky goods showroom.
The matter was taken to the State Administrative Tribunal and, after a planning shuffle, was again put to councillors for approval in August.
Since then, 68 submissions opposing the development have been received with issues ranging from traffic to noise put forward.
"Council has determined that bulky goods/showroom development is not considered appropriate for the subject site with respect to its southern entrance into the Mandurah City Centre," the report read.
Concerns were also noted by the Mandurah Environmental Advisory Group with the proposed site a breeding ground for black cockatoos.
The refusal recommendation comes just weeks after councillors approved a contentious proposal to allow warehouse giant Bunnings to move into a bulky goods development just metres from this site.
A final decision on the proposal will be made at the next full council meeting on November 25.
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