Published on Friday, 3 September 2021 at 9:38:00 AM
City of Busselton Councillors were on Friday (3 September 2021) briefed by Hesperia property developers about the proposed Smiths Beach development.
Hesperia has indicated its intention to use the State Government’s State Development Assessment Unit pathway for ‘significant development’, available under the Planning and Development Amendment Act 2020, in preference to having the development application assessed by the City or through a Development Assessment Panel.
The City expressed on behalf of the community its concerns around the potential for inadequate community consultation under the State Development Assessment Unit pathway, which only mandates a 28 day period.
In July this year, City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley formally wrote on behalf of Council, to the Hon. Rita Saffioti BBus MLA, Minister for Transport; Planning; Ports and Development, in response to community concerns surrounding the proposed Smiths Beach Development.
Mayor Henley requested then that the State not consider the application as a ‘significant development’ through the State Development Assessment Unit and that they revert the application and development process back to the City of Busselton.
Mayor Henley said “We encouraged Hesperia to undertake robust stakeholder engagement and consultation, beyond the mandated 28 day period. Hesperia indicated they would not be adverse to any extension of the consultation period, but that decision will be made by the relevant decision making authority.”
“The City will as part of the State Development Assessment Unit process make a formal submission. That formal submission will be resolved upon by Council through its Council meeting process which is open to the public.”
Objectives outlined in this statement are aligned with the City of Busselton’s Strategic Community Plan (2021 - 2031) Key Themes, Leadership: A Council that connects with the community and is accountable in its decision making.
Ends. Media enquiries can be directed to media@busselton.wa.gov.au
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