Shire president defends claims elected members in the dark on proposed planning scheme changes

Shire president Paula Cristoffanini has stood by the process around the local government’s new planning scheme amid calls to halt the advertising process, Specifically, Cr Cristoffanini defended elected members against claims from protest group Preserve Gnarabup and the Margaret River Coastal Residents Association that they were unaware of changes to zoning that could greatly benefit the developers of a resort and associated village plan on the headland. The Times last week reported the two groups were alarmed at the possible benefits to Westin Margaret River Spa & Resort developer Luke Saraceni from the proposed changes due to the contentious resort, concerns around bushfire safety, and a de facto village plan for Gnarabup that could add 1000 residents during the summer. The groups want public consultation on Local Planning Scheme 2 stopped amid concerns changes to zoning were not disclosed to residents or councillors before advertising began. In a letter to Shire chief executive Stephanie Addison-Brown received by the Times, the demand also looped in WA Government Ministers and the State’s Corruption and Crime Commission. “It is extremely disturbing that changes of this magnitude could have made their way into a public consultation process without the knowledge or oversight of the elected Shire president and council members,” the co-signed letter said. “The Local Planning Scheme 2 process of preparation and consultation has clearly run off the rails and is no longer under the supervision of council to any adequate degree.” Cr Cristoffanini said council briefings and the full text of the draft scheme were on the public record and available to all — including councillors. “Councillors were notified by the chief executive on September 15, 2023, that the Department for Planning, Lands, and Heritage was finally satisfied with the wording of the document and happy for the Shire to advertise it for comments,” the president said. “On October 6, councillors were notified by the chief executive that advertising of the scheme had commenced and were provided with the link to that document. “Council will be considering this document and community feedback once the consultation process closes in January 2024,” Cr Cristoffanini said. “There will be ample opportunity between now and then for council to scrutinise every aspect of this document ahead of resolving whether to support, support subject to proposed modifications, or not support the proposed new scheme.” Other elected members canvassed by the Times declined to comment on their awareness of the proposed zoning changes. A Preserve Gnarabup spokesperson said their claims were backed by a meeting with the council leadership on October 7. BREAKOUT Chief executive Stephanie Addison-Brown has pointed to the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River’s “systematic and rigorous consultation” amid complaints about proposed changes to the region’s key planning document. Responding to challenges of the Shire’s process and communications by Preserve Gnarabup and the Margaret River Coastal Residents Association, Ms Addison-Brown detailed the role of Environmental Protection Authority and WA Planning Commission input. “The EPA provided its approval in September 2021, and the WAPC consented in August 2022 subject to several mandatory changes which the Shire was obligated to make before receiving final approval to advertise in September 2023,” she said. “The Shire is now undertaking a systematic and rigorous consultation using all available channels and has already made hundreds of direct connections with community groups, residents and the building industry.” A consultation hub on the YourSay website compared proposed changes and the public comment period was extended to January 31 next year. The Shire chief welcomed all community feedback or concerns and planners were available to answer questions. “Council will consider the scheme, together with all the submissions received, in the middle of 2024, noting that prior to being officially approved for gazettal, the scheme will again be reviewed by WAPC and require final approval from the Minister for Planning.”