Goldfields WA subdivision in Cowaramup downsized by Augusta-Margaret River council

Planners have imposed a raft of strict modifications on a major subdivision in Cowaramup controversial amongst residents, despite winning crucial funding from the State Government.

Developer Goldfields’ planned 19.6ha subdivision on Bussell Highway, south-west of the township, received 257 objections from Cowaramup locals before it went to the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River councillors last week.

Several changes were introduced by elected members to complement modifications sought by shire planners to address some of those concerns.

They included the density of the existing project, concerns around traffic, the existing creek line, removal of vegetation and noise treatments for lots abutting Bussell Highway.

Campaigner Lisa Bell told Wednesday’s meeting good subdivision design was needed with past proposed features — such as a sports facility and aged care village — removed to maximise housing.

“It’s pretty much going to be replaced with wall-to-wall residential development,” she said.

However, fears developers Goldfields would score an extra 120 lots in the project were nixed by changes which included a sound bund instead of a wall on the highway’s boundary, reduction in the scale of housing, and measures to ensure public open space were kept at about 2ha.

Shire changes also saved the majority of trees onsite, halved density on the public face of the subdivision, and insisted on funding and WA Planning Commission approval for a Bussell Highway roundabout connecting to Roy Earl Drive across the road.

Including proposed worker units, there would be about 180 homes compared to 243 in the application.

Councillors also requested partial rear lane access and insisted community connector roads be built in advanced stages.

The vexed issue of worker housing was also raised during last week’s approval, though deliberations which included a deputation from Goldfields’ WA manager Gareth Wilson shed little light on the practicalities of a funding arrangement with the State Government.

As the Times reported earlier this year, the project scored $1.9 million from the Government to advance a suite of about 60 units slated for workers in the seasonal viticulture and tourism industries.

However, Mr Wilson told last week’s meeting the funding injection was lower than what was first sought, with Goldfields also wanting help to address road alignments within the project which they bought into 18 months ago after also acquiring the stalled final stages of an expansion in the Margaret River town site.

However, councillors approved the modified plan without certainty around worker accommodation because the details would not come until structure and local development plans were required.

The Times understands the working plan, to be canvassed with the WAPC, involved Goldfields offering long-term leases on bulk unit allotments to different industry stakeholders who would in turn provide housing for their seasonal workforce.

Mr Wilson said the project emerged from talks including the Margaret River Wine Association and Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association seeking WA Government support for worker housing.