Housing plan sparks protest

Angry residents who want to preserve a strip of open space on Beach Road have demanded the Bunbury City Council reverse its decision to rezone it.

At least 50 people from across the South West gathered at the corner of Beach Road and Tuart Street on Friday to vent their frustration at the decision.

The council has applied to the State Government to allow two houses on the land so it can benefit from rate income.

But Bob Morgan, who spoke on behalf of the residents, said the council had the power to reverse its decision.

Mr Morgan said the group could seek a meeting with Mayor Gary Brennan or lobby the WA Planning Commission, which will rule on the council's rezoning application.

The council at last Tuesday night's meeting voted 7-5 to rezone the land despite a 764-signature petition opposing the move.

The concerns include increased traffic, the loss of public open space and the impact on wildlife.

"We are determined to argue all the way to the planning commission to disallow this rezoning as the council has deliberately flown in the face of the public interest of its citizens," Mr Morgan said after the meeting.

"Shame on you Mayor Brennan, we expected better than this.

"Taking hard decisions is one thing, but this was simply petty power play."

Mr Brennan rejected the group's suggestion the council had not taken its concerns into account.

"Each elected member has an obligation to equip themselves with the information and not just rely on a single source or a couple of sources," he said. "The petition was an element of the decision making and there were other elements as well that were covered during the debate."