Two multi-million-dollar development proposals to construct a commercial centre and several fast-food outlets in Alkimos have been unanimously approved by State planning officials.
The developments, being led by Satterley Property Group, will be located on land along Romeo Road, near the current end of the Mitchell Freeway in Alkimos.
The now-approved trade supplies and bulky goods showroom proposal, worth $18 million, is expected to be a Bunnings Warehouse and an Officeworks store, and will have 415 car parking bays across the site.
The other development, worth $8 million, will see four fast-food outlets and a liquor store with a drive-through, built on a 13,657 sqm site immediately west of the trade supplies and bulky goods showroom.
It’s expected the fast-food precinct will include a drive-through Nando’s, which would be only the second in WA, a Guzman y Gomez, and a Thirsty Camel liquor store.
This precinct will include 94 car parking bays for customers and staff.
Bordered by low-density residential development in the Trinity Estate to the south and west, and undeveloped land to the north, both proposed development sites are cleared vacant land.
All four fast-food outlets were approved to operate 24 hours, though such hours are unlikely to be implemented, while the liquor store was approved to trade from 8 am – 10 pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10 am – 10 pm on Sundays, in line with state liquor laws.
The proposals were assessed on Thursday afternoon by the Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel.
Prior to the meeting, the City of Wanneroo gave its support for both proposals in a recommendation report, backing its approval subject to conditions.
The proposals plans were released for public consultation earlier this year, attracting hundreds of submissions from local residents and stakeholders.
For the Bunnings and Officeworks development, 337 submissions were received, with 251 in support.
The fast-food and liquor store precinct, however, received 109 objections and only 45 submissions in favour.
Concerns raised in the submissions opposing the developments focused on noise, increased traffic, and the potential impact on the amenity of nearby homes.
This concern was raised by some neighbouring residents during the DAP meeting, who spoke about the potential noise from the drive-through speaker box, located just metres from nearby homes, and how it could impact their amenity.
Concerns were also raised about the concentration of fast-food outlets in the area.
The presiding member of the meeting, Francesca LeFante, acknowledged the concerns raised in the submissions, but noted that many of them sat slightly outside the planning framework the panel was required to assess.
“I do understand and appreciate the concerns of the objectors and submissions in this particular instance,’ Ms Lefante said.
“The site is appropriately zoned and has been for a long time, for this type and mix of use, therefore, I am supportive of it.”
The five-member panel ultimately approved both developments, satisfied that the proposals met planning requirements and that conditions would mitigate potential impacts, including the construction of acoustic walls along the southern boundaries.
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