A WA parliamentary question regarding the proposed height limits and development plans for the Middleton Beach Activity Centre, specifically concerning a hotel site and its commercial viability, and adherence to land use planning guidelines.

AnsweredQoN 5482Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 June 2016
Portfolio
Lands

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Middleton Beach Activity Centre Scheme Amendment and Structure Plan and ask: (a) LandCorp has advised the public that a permitted height up to 12 storeys is required for the hotel site, can the Minister please advise on what information LandCorp relied on when deciding that a height of up to 12 storeys was required for the viability of the hotel on that site; (b) on what information did LandCorp rely on when deciding that a hotel of eight storeys or less would not be viable; and (c) the LandCorp concept plan for the Middleton Beach Activity Centre shows a five storey development immediately next to the existing foreshore reserve, when the structure plan guidelines state a stepped development from ground floor to three storeys. Can the Minister advise why LandCorp is promoting a development that is contrary to its own land use planning guidance?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
16 August 2016
Responded by
Minister for Lands
Response time
63 days
(a) The draft Scheme Amendment and Structure Plan for Middleton Beach proposed a height range of 2 to 12 storeys for the Hotel/Mixed use site. The ultimate height of the development will be determined by the Developer. The upper height limit of 12 storeys was based on a context analysis of the area by architectural, urban design and planning consultants who looked at the existing site character, the backdrop of Mount Adelaide and distance from existing privately owned land and the height of the existing Norfolk pines (8 to 9 storeys). The proposed height limit provides greater scope and flexibility to appeal to a larger pool of potential hotel developers by accommodating a wider range of uses including tourist facilities, restaurants, cafes, shops, and permanent residential apartments to complement a hotel development at a commercially viable scale. LandCorp did not determine the proposed height limit as a requirement for commercial viability; the proposed height limit improves the likelihood of a commercially viable outcome.
(b) Refer (a) – LandCorp has not decided a hotel of eight storeys or less would be unviable. LandCorp has proposed a height range to a maximum of 12 storeys for the hotel site to appeal to a larger pool of potential hotel developers.
(c) The Middleton Beach Activity Centre Concept Plan showed a “5+ storeys” building with a stepped/setback frontage to the foreshore; LandCorp is not proposing a development contrary to its own land use planning guidance. The proposed Structure Plan shows a maximum height of 12 storeys for the Hotel/Mixed Use site adjoining the foreshore; and a general height limit of two to three storeys across the balance of the development area.

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