Dunsborough folks encouraged to rally and ‘fight the height’ with protest on April 15

People concerned about the very real risk of high-rise development in the tourism area of Dunsborough are being urged to lend their voices and their support to a rally scheduled for Saturday, April 15. Co-ordinated by the Dunsborough-Yallingup Chamber of Commerce and groups including the Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association, the Saturday morning rally would be the chance to tell WA’s Planning Minister Rita Saffioti that massive apartment blocks weren’t wanted in the seaside enclave. “It is a rally to voice our wishes to keep Dunsborough as a unique coastal holiday town with a height limit of three storeys,” chamber president Greg Milner said. “This is our final chance to send a strong message to the minister that the Dunsborough community is united, wanting to save our town from five- and six-storey developments. “We want to preserve our town and keep its coastal holiday vibe, for which it is known and loved.” While unthinkable just a few years ago, Dunsborough was already facing construction of one five-storey apartment block after an omnibus scheme amendment approved by the City of Busselton in 2016 opened the door to six-storey developments. While the City had since lodged its crucial Amendment 52 with the WA Planning Commission to reel back those permissions — due to be considered as soon as May — local stakeholders feared the damage was already done. And any ministerial support for more height wouldn’t do anything to address homelessness, but instead create a luxury apartment boom and put untenable pressure on parking and Dunsborough’s relaxed ambience, Mr Milner and others said. The campaign had the MRBTA’s backing, with chief executive Sharna Kearney leading discussions with South West Labor MLC Jackie Jarvis to represent community concerns. However, with strong State Government support for big hotel developments at Gnarabup and Smiths Beach, and recent changes to local government planning processes, stakeholders feared Labor had its eye on ramping up development across the Margaret River tourism region. Ms Kearney said recent discussions had only highlighted “the importance of working closely with our partners to ensure that tourism in this region benefits this place and its people, both in the short-term and in generations to come”. The rally at Lions Park in Dunsborough on Saturday starts at 11am.