SW landowners 'disillusioned' by Harvey council knock-back

Owners of a 35ha Binningup site have been left "disillusioned" by last week's Harvey Shire Council rejection of a proposal to develop 114 residential lots.

An application to put the project for public comment was rejected, leaving it dead in the water unless it is changed.

The development would have incorporated lots sized at an average 882sq m in an area east of the townsite zoned residential in the council's planning scheme.

Speaking for the landowners, TME planner Larry Guise said the decision was disappointing.

"The owners are pretty disillusioned and will need to consider their options," he said.

"The draft proposal was a fair and reasonable balance between conservation and development.

"After 10 years of investigations and numerous options for layout of the subdivision, it is disappointing not to receive council consent to advertise the proposal for community and agency comment."

The council's Development Services Committee noted "a considerable amount of vegetation removal and earthworks/retaining" would have been required.

Shire president Tania Jackson said key concerns were drainage, bushfire management, retaining walls and environmental impact.

Cr Bill Adams was concerned also about hazard reduction and the required retaining walls being a target for vandalism.

Mr Guise said some council requests made development impractical. "Making the development and adjoining houses bushfire-safe is very difficult to achieve if council insists on bigger blocks and minimal clearing, especially in steeper parts of the site," he said.

"Experience also shows that steeper, vegetated blocks in Binningup are more expensive to build on.

Cr Craig Carbone supported the project as "a natural progression for Binningup townsite" while Cr John Sabourne said further delays would not bring a better result.

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