Redevelopment of White Sands Hotel site in Scarborough approved

27/6/97

Planning Minister Graham Kierath has approved the redevelopment of the White Sands Hotel site in Scarborough under the strict letter of the City of Stirling's Town Planning Scheme.

Mr Kierath said the Town Planning Scheme allowed for the redevelopment, which proposed a twin six-storey hotel building. He said it did not impose any height restrictions or limits on the bulk of the development.

"Having said that, I am acutely aware of the public concern this redevelopment proposal has raised," he said.

"Many of the objections I received cited this as setting a precedent for a swag of high rise developments that would create another Gold Coast in the area.

"There are already height restrictions in place under the City of Stirling's Town Planning Scheme and a new amendment will further control commercial development in a similar way to residential.

"If that amendment, now out for public comment, is accepted, the only precedent this development will set is to be the last unless any new proposal meets a number of new controls and limitations."

Mr Kierath said that given that the development plan had been revised to meet certain design specifications imposed by the City of Stirling, he would uphold the appeal by Nettie Holdings against the City of Stirling's refusal to permit the hotel development.

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133