Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council defend growth pressure on Karridale ‘hamlet’
Councillors have shut down talk of almost doubling the size of an estate in Karridale, rejecting a developer’s pitch last month.
Shire of Augusta-Margaret River councillors were on August 28 asked to support a recommendation from planners — strongly against the proposal from developer Kevin McIsaac.
Just the previous week, Mr McIsaac had fronted elected members to quiz them and planning and regulatory services manager Matt Cuthbert, about plans to review the township’s Karridale Hamlet Settlement Strategy citing a lack of space for future residents.
Mr McIsaac argued the KHSS — which was finalised in 2011 after fraught public consultation — needed an urgent upward revision because land sales had already maxxed out.
At the meeting, the developer pitched an amendment to the structure plan for Hamelin Grove Estate on Brockman Highway to allow a new third stage.
Mr MsIsaac sought support to develop a further 85 lots he said could be ready for market within six months and address the lack of housing choice “crisis” south of Margaret River.
He outlined scenarios in which new and existing residents had built lives in Karridale and contributed to the community, but a lack of more lots restricted more essential workers and people seeking to retire.
The argument didn’t hold water with councillors, with deputy Shire president Tracey Muir noting a comprehensive officer’s report which showed capacity for about 9000 lots in the Augusta area, just south of the hamlet.
Cr Muir also said residents had made their vision clear for Karridale during public consultation and Mr McIsaac’s bid was “unsuitable, unplanned and inappropriate”.
“To ignore the communities of Kudardup and Karridale, and to ignore our own and State planning is not responsible governance,” she said.
“It means that the longer-term infrastructure and service needs will not be in place.
“The State Government is already well behind in addressing our shire’s needs in hospitals and education and roads.
“By putting in more development outside of what is planned, isolated from key centres, we know that means people won’t get the basic services they need — let alone the environmental implications.”
Cr Kylie Kennaugh, backed by Cr Melissa D’Ath, failed in a bid to defer the item for more information because — as Cr D’Ath noted –— the 9000 lots around Augusta did not translate to 9000 lots ready for home construction.
The planning report said the land in question was designated rural.
“The proposal is inconsistent with the strategic framework for the Karridale townsite and it is recommended that council provide a recommendation of refusal to the WA Planning Commission,” it said.
Shire president Julia Meldrum warned against “ad hoc” development in Karridale and said councillors needed to remain consistent with its designation as a hamlet.
The refusal passed with, Cr D’Ath and Cr Kennaugh voting against it.
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