By Holly Mitchell, 4 April, 2011
Planning consultants say the Western Australian Planning Commission has delayed the controversial Smiths Beach development from commencing construction.
After a long and confrontational planning process the commission has rejected the latest plans for the development after they had been approved by the Shire of Busselton earlier in the year.
Canal Rocks Pty Ltd planning consultant Michael Swift said the dismissal by the commission was “contrary to normal procedure especially for a project like Smiths Beach”.
Last year a reduced scale of development had been negotiated with the developers at Smiths Beach after an extended State Administrative Tribunal appeal, reducing its size to from 21ha to 12ha, featuring one hotel.
The project’s latest progression has been further frustrated despite the local authorities’ adopting the amended plans.
The Western Australian Planning Commission have ordered further policies and amended current plans, which even though is still within the commission’s powers is contrary to typical process, prompting people such as Mr Swift to speak out.
"There is suspicion of individual people within the approval agencies not supporting the Smiths Beach development. It has been a lot slower and more meticulous than normal,” Mr Swift said.
The issues could be resolved if government agencies “acted in an appropriate and unbiased manner”, said environmental integration expert, Howard Mitchell.
Mr Mitchell also speculated that the commission’s board meeting minutes would reveal who is allegedly accountable for the recent delays.
The Federal Government’s Environmental agencies and the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority have both given clearance and approval to the current plans for Smiths Beach.
Representatives from the Western Australian Planning Commission, and Nigel Bancroft director of planning and development services Shire of Busselton, chose not to give comments on the current status of the development when approached.
The dismissal has lead to further appeals and expenditure by both the government agencies involved and the developer, Canal Rocks Pty Ltd.
Canal Rocks has pushed to build a resort development on the South West beach front site for over 10 years but the controversy over Smiths beach has lead to ministerial resignations, investigations by the Corruption and Crime Commission, and several appearances at the State Administrative Tribunal.
The Smiths Beach development has been forced back into the State Administrative Tribunal for further debate and trials.
The tribunal expects to resume hearings in early May.
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