Residents protest beachside rezone bid
Bunbury residents neighbouring the old Fawlty Towers Motel site on Ocean Drive will protest the proposed rezoning of the land at tonight’s council meeting.
The construction of the Bunbury Seaview Apartments — of about 43 units, a cafe, management office, parking and swimming pool — was approved by the council in 2007.
The owners of the site have asked the council to rezone the land to boost the number of residential units to about 70 per cent of the development.
The number of residential units was previously capped at 25 per cent.
More than 50 neighbouring residents attended a community meeting on Sunday in Birch Street, behind the development, to discuss the issue.
Meeting organiser Kim Fildes said she did not want the rezoning approved simply because the council was desperate to see the development finished.
She said the development had dragged on for the past five years, including a long period when construction stalled.
“It was approved at a time when Bunbury was desperate for shortterm accommodation,” Mrs Fildes said.
“The developers should not be able to change the rezoning now and take advantage of the fact people just want to see it finished.”
Cr Betty McCleary, who spoke against the rezoning at last week’s council meeting, said the site should be used for tourist accommodation.
“In five years time we’ll be cursing if we don’t have short-stay accommodation at this site,” she said.
In the application to the council the developers argued the rezoning was consistent with local planning policies and would provide high-quality accommodation.
“It has been clearly demonstrated that the development will provide benefits to the surrounding residential area while being adaptable to meet the market demand for short, medium and long-stay accommodation as the market demands,” the application said.
Council planning staff recommended the development retain 14 short-stay units, the number of units at the demolished Fawlty Towers Motel.
The owners have also asked for approval for a shop to be included in the development.
The council will discuss the issue at tonight’s meeting but is expected to defer any decision.
