Wallcliffe House’s insurers are more likely to be the most important issue guaranteeing the very best stage of bushfire security for the contentious tourism growth, a State evaluation panel was advised final week.
In green-lighting the Julian and Alexandra Burt venture, WA’s Regional Development Assessment Panel thought of bushfire dangers related to the positioning, forcing the builders to attract upon performance-based rules to point out the venture may go forward.
Shire strategic planning supervisor Matt Cuthbert stated regardless of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services not endorsing the venture’s bushfire administration plan, that was typical of the company.
He stated DFES had not permitted a bushfire administration plan within the shire since 2015.
Critics — together with former Shire of Augusta-Margaret River president Jamie McCall, talking on behalf of the Preserve Gnarabup marketing campaign, and conservationist Ray Swarts for the Friends of the Margaret River — had argued the panel couldn’t discover in favour of the reported $25 million-plus utility for a boutique lodge, restaurant and chalets on the web site famously destroyed through the 2011 bushfires.
However, whereas the five-person panel, together with Cr David Binks and deputy shire president Paula Cristoffanini backed the venture, presiding member Tony Aryas stunned onlookers by saying he wasn’t snug with the dangers concerned.
The Wallcliffe House venture workforce conceded the ultimate bushfire administration plan relied upon planning approval to justify the associated fee and complexity concerned, which included a last-resort hearth shelter if evacuation was not attainable as a result of single exit from the positioning.
Expert Anthony Rowe stated the venture’s insurers had stringent expectations of their very own.
Mr Cuthbert stated State tips have been particularly formulated realizing most coastal tourism initiatives lacked second exit choices.
But Mr Aryas stated the proponents successfully relied on the panel’s belief to acquit the ultimate bushfire emergency plan.
“We must give due regard to the issue of fire safety and at this point I’m not comfortable,” he stated.
“I’m not comfortable that we as a panel should leave that to be addressed by other parties.”
While solely a few of the web site was categorized on the highest threat stage attainable, Mr Aryas stated individuals’s lives have been concerned in that call.
Nonetheless, Cr Cristoffanini moved to approve the venture whereas including an modification guaranteeing the hearth shelter was a obligatory facet.
Environmental and Aboriginal and European heritage considerations barely rated a point out through the assembly, with members happy by the extent of session and high-level sign-offs already achieved.
It adopted a fiery assembly in Margaret River in February, the place residents stated the venture mustn’t proceed on what was a former Aboriginal burial floor.
And that outrage adopted revelations the developer had backed out of a dedication for the restaurant and wider web site to stay open to the general public.
https://thewest.com.au/news/augusta-margaret-river-times/state-panel-gives-tick-to-wallcliffe-house-project-in-margaret-river-despite-bushfire-concerns-c-14120353
