THE Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council has approved a Scheme Amendment to permit new development at the Margaret River Golf Club, despite concerns on such issues as fire risk and noise.
Six tourism chalets and a rural residential cluster development of 12 units and club/house/restaurant/function centre will be permitted under Scheme Amendment 203 proposes to amend Town Planning Scheme No 11 for Lot 4, Wallcliffe Road.
The shire received 35 submissions from the community, of which 15 objected to the proposal, nearly all being from nearby landowners or residents.
Concerns included fire risks, environmental impact, land density, noise, vehicle movement and the impact of the Recycled Water Scheme on the surrounding area.
Following the submissions, the shire proposed modifications to the layout and scheme provisions, and shire staff recommended approval for the development.
At last week’s Council meeting, Wilderness residents Brett Baldwin and Gordon Lyon spoke against the proposal.
Mr Lyon spoke about fire risk, referring to this year’s Victoria fires.
“The main hazards are the chalets,” he said.
“(And) no firebreak is really effective in a fire.”
Cr Rosemary Taylor said the project was obviously contentious.
“I acknowledge they are in a high fire risk area, (but) I can’t see this development is going to make it worse,” she said.
“It’s consistent with the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge Statement of Planning Policy and Tourism Taskforce report.”
She said the use of recycled water in the development, via the Margaret River Recycled Water Scheme, would have direct beneficial effect.
Cr Jenny McGregor said she didn’t think anyone had ever caused a fire at the site.
“I think it’s a win-win for everybody,” she said.
However, Cr Lyn Serventy said she remembered a burnoff which escaped from the golf club and threatened Wilderness Road.
“It’s an area of extreme fire risk and has been categorised as such,” he said.
“I think it’s quite debatable whether we would like subdivisions in such a high risk fire area these days.
“There has been no attempt by staff to shift the chalets to reduce impact on very valuable bush.
“This is just nowhere good enough.”
Cr Brian Middleton said any golf club that owned land has the right under planning law to develop it.
“Our officers tell us that it complies (and) I certainly have faith in our planning officers,” he said.
“One of the catalysts is for saving water.
“It leads to massive benefits.
“I think on balance it is a sound, sane and sensible proposal.”
Cr Mike Smart also supported it.
“I do feel concern for people adjacent to it, (but it doesn’t) give you the right to stop people developing,” he said.
Shire president Steve Harrison said the fire issue was critical.
He agreed with Cr Serventy it was unlikely development in Wilderness would get accepted today.
However, he said, after the Victoria fires people were very much aware of fire risk, and the motion was carried 5-1.
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