By Nicole Harrison, Midland-Kalamunda Reporter
BELLEVUE residents have won the latest round in their battle to stop the industrialisation of their suburb.
The City of Swan will recommend to the WA Planning Commission not to rezone land in Wangalla Road and Clayton Street, Bellevue, from ‘rural’ to ‘industry’, following an impassioned plea from residents at last week’s council meeting.
Councillors voted 11-3 for the recommendation opposing the rezoning because they considered the industrial development undesirable within the Bellevue Residential Precinct and adjacent to Clayton View Primary School, and because it would result in increased noise, visual pollution and traffic management concerns.
The council’s decision went against a recommendation from City of Swan planning officers.
Bellevue resident Anne Swinley, who lives one house away from Wangalla Road, addressed the council before it discussed the matter.
“I know we are a poor economic little suburb but you don’t have to keep getting the muck put on us time and time again,” she said. “We don’t need any more traffic coming in and out.”
Bellevue Residents and Ratepayers Association president Arthur Storm said there had been no consultation about the industrial proposal for the site, part of which was the former Palm Grove golf complex.
“I have concern for the future of Bellevue and surrounding areas,” he said.
Planning consultant Ed Turner, for the developer, said his client had put the industrial rezoning proposal to the WAPC, which had referred it to the City of Swan.
He said the State Administrative Tribunal had rejected a previous proposal for a residential development because of issues with aircraft noise.
“My client has spent three to four years trying to get this progressed. We have nowhere to go other than a light industrial area,” he said.