Way cleared for Prevelly residential development

6/9/93

The State Government has opened the way for a new coastal residential development near Margaret River in the State's South-West.

Planning Minister Richard Lewis said today he had given approval for Gnarabup Beach Estate to be included in a new town planning scheme for the coastal town of Prevelly, about nine kilometres west of Margaret River.

Mr Lewis said that as well as the residential subdivision, land had also been set aside for a potential tourism development on a three-hectare site south of the existing Prevelly townsite.

He said the decision to zone the land for residential and tourist development had been done in consultation with the Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council.

"In effect, the decision I have made endorses the overall position taken by the council in respect of the future of Prevelly and its importance to the region," he said.

Mr Lewis said his decision to include a three-hectare site for a proposed 50-room lodge had broken a deadlock between the local council and Gnarabup Beach Estate developers, Cedar Vale Pty Ltd.

"A coastal tourist development of this kind is needed in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste region and I have left the way open for that to happen at Gnarabup Beach," he said.

"I have made a decision that the local council either could not or would not make."

Mr Lewis said he had decided to include the land as a tourist zone after visiting the site earlier in the year with members of the local shire council.

"I am satisfied that the proposed tourist lodge will not unduly impact on the surrounding area," he said.

"What is being proposed is a low-level, two-storey building that will not be seen from Gnarabup Beach or Prevelly and will not be as visually intrusive as many people have claimed.

"As I have said before, the Government is prepared to support low-level environmentally sensitive coastal developments that are in keeping with the surrounding landscape.

"This proposal clearly fulfils that criteria."

Mr Lewis said the developers had agreed to set aside more than 100 hectares of privately-owned land for public open space, which would more than double the amount of land currently set aside in the existing townsite for such purposes.

Media contact: Paul Plowman 222 9595 or 221 1377