Division over Middleton Beach delay

The Albany City Council remains divided over its decision to postpone the controversial Middleton Beach scheme amendment and structure plan for further community consultation.

As reported in Thursday’sAlbany Advertiser , the council voted to postpone the motion and reopened the consultation period until June 13.

The council was voting on a structure plan for the prominent area, which includes the former Esplanade Hotel site, that would allow a potential development between five and 12 storeys.

Councillor Greg Stocks, who put forward the motion to postpone a decision, defended the council from public comments that it was indecisive.

“There was a number of people in the room who were making allegations that most of the people in Albany aren’t aware (of the proposal), so I said if most people aren’t aware then let’s find out if it’s true or not,” he said.

“My belief is we have consulted widely and well.

“It’s about going to the vote knowing that everyone has had an opportunity to provide input.”

Councillors Mr Stocks, Janelle Price, Nicolette Mulcahy, Anthony Moir and Bill Hollingworth supported the motion to seek further public comment.

Mayor Dennis Wellington and councillors Alison Goode, Ray Hammond and Rob Sutton voted against the motion.

Councillors John Shanhun and Paul Terry refused to comment, with the latter hanging up on theAlbany Advertiser mid-call.

Two councillors were unable to be contacted.

Mr Wellington said there has been enough community consultation and a decision needs to be made.

“Personally I think it should have gone through,” he said.

“We need to enable (developers) to make decision on what is viable so there is no guarantee it will be 12 storeys, that will depend on the person who buys the block and what they want do.

“They have to build enough floors to be viable and it will not be if there are not enough rooms.”

Cr Mulcahy said an extension to the public comment period was in order.

“It was laid on the table only to ensure the public felt that they had been given sufficient time to make a submission on the height of the building,” she said.

“There is a big difference between eight storeys and 12 storeys and we need to make sure the public feel like they have had enough opportunity to comment.

“We currently only get a small number of submissions from a small number of immediately affected residents and it’s important for the wider Albany community to feel they have had an opportunity to comment.

“There will be a proposal for that site moving ahead and we are very confident and a new hotel will be secured by LandCorp for construction in the very immediate future.”

Cr Moir said there needed to be more guidance for developers and further consultation would provide this.

“We are here to represent the people, so we will give them an opportunity for more submissions either for or against,” he said.

Cr Sutton said he could see no reason for the motion and refused to comment further.

Cr Hammond said postponing a decision would create unnecessary roadblocks.

Cr Goode raised concerns about the WA Planning Commission now having the power to remove the decision from the Council’s control.

New public submissions will be open until 5pm on Monday, June 13.