Gracetown growth plan divides locals
Nestled in pristine bush overlooking the South West's dramatic coastline and beautiful beaches, Gracetown is known and loved for its serenity, slow pace and WA's best surf breaks.
But the calm of this beachside hamlet, 18km from Margaret River, is being shattered by conflict over State Government plans to double the town's size.
State development agency Landcorp's plan has triggered a backlash from locals who fear Gracetown's natural beauty will be lost.
A luxury holiday home hotspot, the list of objectors is a rollcall of high-flyers in Perth's judiciary, business, academia, medicine and politics, including WA Legislative Council President Barry House and former Liberal leader Bill Hassell.
The Government stands to make $25-$30 million from selling off and developing the 14.42ha parcel of crown land behind Gracetown.
But what really sticks in the craw of frustrated locals is the Government will ultimately decide if its own plan goes ahead.
"The player and the umpire are the same person here," David Burges, of the Gracetown Progress Association, said.
The Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council resolved this week not to adopt Landcorp's plan, citing a lack of certainty over costs and financial implications for existing residents, but signalled its broad support.
The council's decision will serve as a recommendation to the WA Planning Commission, which advises Planning Minister John Day, who will make the final decision within months.
"There's a real danger of rubber-stamping because it's one government agency to another," David Martin, a former lawyer who has two Gracetown properties and is representing locals opposed to the plan, said.
It goes back to 1998 when Gracetown, which has an average occupancy of 30 per cent, was identified for expansion.
Landcorp was tasked with designing the development.
"Ninety-nine per cent of people don't want to have development," Mr Martin said. "We took the view the Government is going to do this and we should at least get inside the tent to try to help them fashion it into something that's acceptable."
Talks started positively, according to Mr Martin, and people were open to development alongside improvements to infrastructure and facilities.
He said none of the community's top 10 suggestions was included in Landcorp's plan.
The community has been pushing for a second access road for Gracetown, which is at extreme bushfire risk, but that was also not included.
The current plan includes 140 new homes and a water recycling treatment plant for the whole town, which now uses septic tanks.
Landcorp's website says the proposed development is designed to "set new benchmarks in sustainable living".
It proposes solar hot-water systems for the homes and wind power to operate the wastewater treatment plant.
The wastewater treatment plant could cost Gracetown homeowners thousands of dollars to install the necessary equipment and they could face higher rates for the new service.
Exactly how much it would cost individuals is unclear, but a figure as high as $45,000 was raised at Wednesday's council meeting in Augusta.
Landcorp's David McFerran told councillors the agency would cover 50 per cent of people's costs and it could not force Gracetown residents to connect to the plant.
Some locals and councillors question the scheme's economic viability, particularly if existing residents do not join up, and why they should have to fork out for the Government's "experiment" in sustainability.
Not everyone in Gracetown is against development.
Anatol Fritsch, who owns Sunsets Cafe in Gracetown, said development could bring the town out of the 1970s and into the 21st century.
"A bit more life would be nice in the future," he said.
"I think development doesn't have to be destructive.
"It's all about sustainable development, and I think this place can take more development."
Mr Martin said the issue threatened to bring years of continuing conflict to Gracetown.
"The beauty and serenity of Cowaramup Bay will be damaged for ever by this development," he said.
