newsletters

Morning Paola

First of all, thanks.

After ten years of going around in circles, It's great to see the Dalkeith community as a group, telling the council what we want, rather than sitting back and being told what we "need".

I have received your email asking residents for their views.

In an effort to make your submission as effective as possible I would like you to speak to your planning people about the use of the word "subdivision".

All of the planners I am dealing with are using the term "built form". My take on this change of language is that the planners want to determine two things;

Firstly the shape of what we see when walking down the street, this takes in things like setbacks, crossovers, heights, position of garages, and in the case of East Perth can even dictate roof colour.
Secondly and separately the planners want to know what we want inside those buildings, for example you could have a house that appears from the street as one residence, but is internally divided into two.

To apply this language to our current environment

People can currently build a 10 meter high building, setback 9 meters from the front, 1.5m from the sides, and 6 meters from the back. This results in some very big buildings.
The city of Nedlands currently allows one dwelling in a building of this size.

Using "built form" language we could potentially dictate that a building the same size as that which can currently be built, could contain more than one dwelling whilst presenting to the street as a single house.

On a personal note when I hear the word "subdivision" I think of the rabbit warren I used to rent in Scarborough, or the side by side walls of garage doors appearing on narrow blocks.

I would never accept this type of development in Dalkeith.

I would however accept multiple dwellings in a single building that presents to the street as one house, provided setbacks are maintained, parking is realistic and largely hidden from view and the areas amenity is retained.

Initially I think logic would dictate that this could occur around the existing commercial area and up and down the bus route on Waratah Avenue.

Thank you for your time

Keep up the good work

Regards

Matt Negus
9389 6956.