THE Draft Margaret River Townsite Strategy’s growth projections were debated at length at last week’s special council meeting, with councillors battling over growth figures and the alleged “incompetence” of the shire report.
Cr Lyn Serventy spoke against one recommendation regarding development of eastern, southern and south western green field lands in the Margaret River townsite which listed criteria to be complied with before rezoning procedures commence.
The criteria included that Development Investigation Areas shall only be developed “where a clear housing need can be demonstrated”.
In response, Cr Brian Middleton said this was one of the core items of debate and people should not be afraid of potential growth.
“The reality is no-one knows what growth rates are going to be,” he said.
“(With this recommendation) we will get growth that is planned and controlled.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed or afraid of.”
Cr Jenny McGregor said she was happy with the recommendation, and if a proposed development was not needed, it would not go ahead.
Cr Serventy, however, said the statistics used for shire demographics were inflated and not credible.
She quoted figures from WA Tomorrow, a report by the Western Australian Planning Commission on population projections for local government areas for 2004 to 2021, questioning the consultants’ use of the shire’s local planning projections.
“The only conclusion we can come to, is that we have sufficient land already for 2026,” she said.
“It could be positively detrimental to adopt such DIAs.”
She said an oversupply of land could lead to high levels of vacancies and living with antisocial behaviour and crime.
With an area such as Gracetown, she said an increase of 20 dwellings did not necessarily mean an increase of 50 residents, as some dwellings would not be permanently occupied.
“The figures are inflated,” she said.
“It’s been manipulated by using absentee landowner percentage.
“WA Tomorrow figures 30 per cent non residential.
“I think it’s incompetent–we’ve been told by so many people that made submissions and as councillors we should take due regard of them and back them up.
“I feel if I don’t take them into account I would be incompetent as a councillor.”
Deputy shire president Cr Ray Colyer, however, said the recommendations were not locking the town into a high planning strategy for growth.
“We need to provide as a council for the next 15 years in regards to projections for future growth,” he said.
“I’m very confident (from) the information and recommendations that we will have orderly and managed growth for this town in the next 15 years.”
Cr Rosemary Taylor said she remembered a time when many young local families had to live in caravan parks, and the Strategy had the right mechanisms to cope with development.
“We don’t build to be held to ransom by one developer,” she said.
“And we can’t tell what the future’s going to be.
“We have to be open to change.
“This area could have a renewal in agriculture.”
Cr Mike Smart said he found it hard to understand the “paranoia about the figures”.
Shire president Steve Harrison quoted the dictionary definition of planning, saying it was “what you will do in the event of something happening”.
“I agree with Cr Smart, these are DIAs, possible investigation area, there’s no development zonings,” he said.
“The document doesn’t say ‘here you go Ben, start it’, it doesn’t allow people to do things willy nilly all over the place.
“It’s interesting how fear of growth prevents outcomes.”
He said people could selectively quote from WA Tomorrow, but there was a degree of uncertainty in future development, such as the baby boomers, viticulture, and climate change.
Cr Middleton said it was the old approach to growth that was “incompetent”.
“This (approach) is competent, I believe our officers have done a superb job,” he said.
“Our officers haven’t locked in to any high scenario.
“It’s a step forward for Margaret River.”
The recommendation was carried 6-1.
In another debate Cr Serventy said they were dealing with placing DIAs over a large amount of rural land, and noted the shire officers had warned the council to avoid ad hoc manner of development.
About 20 people attended the meeting in the public gallery.
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