A contentious proposal to construct a major commercial hub in Perth's northern suburbs has cleared a significant hurdle, with planning assessors recommending it be approved despite fierce local opposition.
Development Details and Overwhelming Opposition
The $35 million Woodvale Corner project, proposed for the intersection of Wanneroo Road and Woodvale Drive, includes plans for an Aldi supermarket, a cafe or restaurant, two fast-food outlets, a medical centre, a gym, bulky goods showrooms, a service station, and self-storage facilities. The development would provide 242 vehicle parking bays.
This recommendation from the State Development Assessment Team comes in the face of substantial community pushback. During public consultation earlier this year, 1,265 out of 1,463 submissions (86%) expressed opposition to the plans. Primary concerns centred on potential traffic congestion, safety issues, impacts on local amenity, and environmental consequences.
Council Concerns and Traffic Fears
Both the City of Wanneroo and the City of Joondalup have formally opposed the development. The City of Wanneroo argues the proposal contradicts principles of orderly planning and is inconsistent with statutory and strategic planning frameworks.
Wanneroo's planning and sustainability director, Mark Dickson, stated the city would prefer the site be used for low-to-medium-density residential development or aged-care accommodation. He emphasised such uses would be more appropriate in scale and allow for better retention of vegetation adjacent to the Yellagonga Regional Park.
A major point of contention is the projected traffic increase. The development is forecast to generate an extra 7,650 vehicle trips per day. This is a significant addition to Woodvale Drive, which already carries between 7,500 and 8,300 vehicles daily, exceeding its recommended capacity of 6,000.
Path to Approval and Imposed Conditions
Despite the opposition, planning assessors concluded the application addressed key considerations like land use compatibility, environmental impacts, and bushfire management. They acknowledged the proposal departs from the planning framework as an 'out-of-centre' development but found it demonstrates overall consistency with the objectives of orderly and proper planning.
The site's zoning under the City of Wanneroo's district planning scheme as urban development means such a proposal can be considered. The Heritage Council of WA also supported the plan, subject to conditions monitoring impacts on the nearby Cockman House.
The recommendation report includes several strict conditions for approval, including mandatory road upgrades at the intersection. These upgrades must, at a minimum, involve:
- Removal of the right-hand turn from Woodvale Drive onto Wanneroo Road.
- Installation of dual left and right turn lanes at the intersection.
- Partial straightening of Woodvale Drive.
- Installation of traffic signals.
Plans for these upgrades must be submitted and approved before a building permit application can proceed. The developers have already amended initial plans, removing a proposed childcare centre due to proximity rules with the service station and replacing it with a medical centre.
The final decision now rests with the Statutory Planning Committee of the WA Planning Commission, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, December 10.
