Approval adds to residents' fears
Residents fighting the State Government and Crown in the WA Supreme Court are worried noisy cooling towers, service entrances and an open-air bar will be within 60m of their homes.
The Government granted Crown planning approval for its six-star hotel using the Burswood Island Act, which it says let Gaming Minister Terry Waldron alone grant approval rather than follow the usual public process.
The residents argued in the Supreme Court the Act did not contemplate development beyond the second stage in 2005 and that Mr Waldron's approvals were invalid. Justice Andrew Beech reserved his decision.
Premier Colin Barnett has said no one is entitled to have their views preserved.
But Neil Kidd, lead plaintiff for 105 Burswood Peninsula residents, said they were worried about more than views.
"Through the court process the Crown plans are now public," Mr Kidd said. "The hotel is a 25- storey monstrosity with loading docks, noisy cooling towers and a massive outside balcony and bar metres from our bedrooms.
"Never mind views, perhaps the Premier can tell us how we are supposed to sleep at night."
Crown says it cannot comment on a matter before the court and did not respond to requests for comment on the revealed plans.
