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31 Leon Road
Dalkeith
Western Australia 6009
Phone 0893864861
Fax 0893862712
jillando@bigpond.net.au

6th February 2008

The Mayor and Councillors
City of Nedlands
WA 6009

Re: Submission to CITY OF NEDLANDS in response to the Council’s Concept Draft Built Form Design Guidelines (Precinct 18) dated December 2007.

I have been a Dalkeith resident for 28 years and wish to register my strong objection to the Dalkeith Redevelopment Plan and the manner in which it has been presented to our community.

I was disturbed to be informed just prior to Christmas of the scope and immense scale of this plan.

That such a plan has advanced to this stage without wide community consultation and an unclear purpose, is an insult to local residents. The plan clearly will benefit financially those who choose to redevelop; there appears to be evidence that some people have had prior knowledge of the proposals and have taken advantage of this; and it is extraordinary that private owners immediately affected were privately consulted to seek support.

There appears to have been no preliminary research undertaken – no social, environmental or economic studies. The impact on local residents from parking and increased vehicle traffic in access roads has not been addressed. Nor have the safety risks for children from apartment developments near the Primary School; and the possibility of motel, hotel or tavern developments without clearly establishing a need are inappropriate.

If one of the reasons for this development is to provide accommodation for ‘the aged’ who want to live in the same suburb, why would the Dalkeith Hall site which provides community programs for all ages be replaced by proposed commercial developments with no substitute?

There is a case for some minor redevelopment in Waratah Avenue such as a wider choice of restaurants or cafes, and the redevelopment of existing buildings in the commercial areas without detracting from the ‘village feel’ of the street. There is some virtue in allowing some residences above existing commercial premises with restricted heights to 12m and allowing subdivisions in residential precincts in Waratah Avenue to no greater than R20. Providing services for people outside the local Dalkeith area is not warranted. The Claremont shopping precinct redevelopment will more than adequately provide retail and commercial opportunities in the district.

When I first heard about this plan, I thought it was a joke. I then discovered it was indeed being seriously proposed and had gone a considerable way towards becoming a reality.

I remain mystified as to why and how this proposal, which is so inappropriate for a peaceful, treescaped, safe residential area, could have expanded so quickly from an idea into such an over scaled monstrosity, seemingly without some Councillors being aware.

I urge Councillors to vote against this development.

Jill Anderson