POST Newspapers (21 Feb 2025) By Bret Christian

Twin towers for central Cottesloe are a stark example of everything that is wrong with WA’s planning system, Dr Rachel Horncastle says.

She said over-development had been the top issue raised by people in the electorate when in the past two months she and her supporters knocked on 5000 doors from North Fremantle to South City Beach.

The community independent candidate for the state seat of Cottesloe said the 17- and 15-storey buildings proposed for Station Street are too high and too dense.

They would cast a winter shadow blight over nearby Napoleon Street, “the beating heart of Peppermint Grove and Cottesloe” (Gloom looms over cafe strip, POST, October 26, 2024).

She said the already congested streets would become a nightmare with 289 extra cars there, plus street parking for visitors to shops and bars.

The hotel, rooftop bar and high-priced units would do nothing to solve the homeless crisis.

“They’re luxury apartments and will only be affordable to a few,” she said.

“So this is not what we need.

This is simply pleasing a few people, and most of them are just the property developers, not the community.

“Cottesloe electors are not anti-development, but they don’t want a monstrous high-rise.”

“Medium rise and medium density is what we’ve been talking about, and what most people are very supportive of, maintaining our green spaces, protecting our mature trees,” she said.

“At this development, they are talking about chopping down two beautiful mature trees, the only trees at the western end of Station Street.”

Cottesloe council has strongly opposed what it called the “overbearing” development at 7-11 Station Street, but it is not the decision-maker.

Those powers were taken as an emergency measure during the COVID pandemic, and state government planners are at present assessing the $200 million development.

The decision will be made by the government-appointed WA Planning Commission, which refuses very few “significant development pathway” projects.

The developers are rich-lister Leonie Baldock, granddaughter of iron ore magnate Peter Wright, and Dalkeith developer Matt McNeilly (see POST Business page 71).

Dr Horncastle said developers were maximising their profits at the expense of the community, with the help of a very lopsided planning system that excludes the input of communities.

“People aren’t opposed to development,” she said.

“Rather, what they want is sensible, sustainable growth that respects local character and genuinely incorporates community input.

“The Labor government’s approach to planning reform has swung too far in favour of big developers, leaving local communities shut out.”

Other states had third-party appeal rights that helped maintain a balance, and were supported by the WA Local Government Association.

She said her Liberal Party opponent, Sandra Brewer, had been working as executive director of the WA Property Council until last year, when she started campaigning.

“I’d love to know who has been donating to her campaign,” she said, noting that her own campaign had full transparency with donations being posted in real time on her website.

“I would love her to do the same thing, so we can see exactly who is going to be influencing her if she is elected,” she said.

When the POST asked Liberal candidates to disclose their donors, the reporter was referred to Liberal Party headquarters, which said the party complied with electoral donation laws.