MANDURAH councillors have given their strongest indication they will not support a proposal for hardware giant Bunnings to build their second store in Halls Head.
Speaking at Tuesday night’s Planning, Community Development and Sustainability Committee meeting, councillor Don Pember said it was the city’s duty to take a stand.
“We should avoid encroachment into residential zones,” Mr Pember said.
He gave three reasons in his bid to move an alternative recommendation to reject the proposal to amend the Halls Head Precinct Plan at Lot 505 Hungerford Avenue.
Under the proposal, a bulky goods precinct site would be approved to abut the current Halls Head Shopping Centre with a modified road network plus 170 new homes and relocation of retained bushland also recommended.
Mr Pember said the fact nearby Galbraith Loop was part of the activity strategy and not Halls Head was a big factor in his lack of support for the motion as well as the impact on the proposed nearby residential zones.
His third reason, which was not supported by City officers as grounds for refusal, was the notion big businesses should not be able to come in and “wipe out” local businesses.
Councillor Caroline Knight supported Mr Pember’s motion to defer the item to the next full council meeting to give city officers time to put together a recommendation to refuse the modifications.
Council received 57 submissions opposing the development, just nine in support and a further petition against the proposal with more than 1300 signatures.
Councillors are now expected to refuse the Precinct Plan proposal at the next full council meeting on October 28.
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