New Margaret River light industrial gets the nod for homes, retail in council debate

Councillors have approved amendments to the region’s new industrial area off the Margaret River perimeter road, but fallen out over whether to allow homes for people working there.

Proponent John Low and planning consultant Peter Gleed returned to last month’s Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council meeting after the new LIA was deferred for elected members to investigate issues about the project which was initiated in 2014.

Previously, Mr Low had explained ambiguities in the existing approval as well as a lack of certainty about caretaker cottages had the potential to hamper capital for the project which required at least $2.5 million to get off the ground.

Mr Gleed told the meeting it was now “crunch time” to nail down the specifics of the structure plan so the owners could advance the project to market.

That involved borrowing for capital works which was currently undermined by the ambiguities the council was asked to address.

Amendments made during the meeting were split in two at Cr David Binks’ request because he and Shire president Julia Meldrum were opposed to allowing caretaker dwellings in the new LIA.

Mr Gleed argued such accommodation was typical of LIAs across the State, limited to just 17 lots in the LIA and was an added factor in attracting buyers.

Cr Binks said he was completely opposed to any residential capacity on the site.

“It’s hardly appropriate to have a family in an industrial area,” he said.

Mr Gleed had said the dwellings were not full homes and people having accommodation near their employment would help with security on the outskirts of Margaret River.

Cr Kylie Kennaugh said people were living other LIAs, such as in Cowaramup and new operators could do the same in the new site.

“At the end of the day people are just going to wheel caravan in there and we won’t even know,” she said.

A council majority backed the 17 dwellings and then unanimously supported allowing low-scale retail operations across all lots in the LIA.