Stakeholder groups and community members will soon be asked to comment on the future proposals for Locke Estate - as promised at the start of the consultation period earlier this year.

The City of Busselton has asked people to be wary of three plans that had been circulated in a recent newspaper article. These were drafts done by Connell Wagner as examples only and provided a basis for the second workshop, where community members, stakeholder groups and local and state government representatives were invited to develop ideas for the site - and literally draw all over these examples.

Connell Wagner developed these examples as a result of community input, and from the first workshop of lessees and other groups. The feedback had shown clear themes, which formed a basis for the second workshop to further expand.

City of Busselton's Director of Community and Organisational Development, Matthew Smith said the community can rest assured that the final decision on the future of Locke Estate had not been made and there was still further consultation to be undertaken.

"Unfortunately, a recent press article indicated there was already a preferred option, and that three concept plans were presented for workshop attendees to consider," Mr. Smith said.

"This is definitely not the case. Each of these three ‘plans' was clearly labeled ‘Example Only', and every workshop attendee was asked to help design and elaborate on these examples. These were not final plans.

"The consultant is further refining the options and presenting these to Council at a future meeting. Workshop attendees gave an indication of what they preferred in terms of the options, but this does not constitute the final decision.

"The community can be assured that we will stick to our commitment to advertise the options after consideration by Council.  We promised that the public will have another chance to comment on the future of Locke Estate, and that is going to happen."

Mr. Smith said the community can comment on the concepts developed from all feedback in the consultation process during a four week public comment period, which will be advertised in the next few weeks.                  

Information from consultation will be considered by Council prior to recommendations on the future of the reserve being submitted to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who will make final decisions on the site's future.