Sorrento development near Hillarys Boat Harbour approved despite Joondalup council opposition

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Sorrento development near Hillarys Boat Harbour approved despite Joondalup council opposition

An $80 million seven-storey apartment proposal adjacent to Hillarys Boat Harbour has been green-lit by State planning officials, despite opposition from the City of Joondalup.

The complex, developed by Perth-based Locus Property, secured approval on Wednesday from the WA Planning Commission’s Statutory Planning Committee.

Located at the corner of West Coast Drive and Hepburn Avenue at 3 Delos Way, Sorrento, the development will convert a 4731sqm vacant block into a seven-storey complex featuring 83 apartments, which includes 18 one-bedroom, 35 two-bedroom and 30 three-bedroom units.

The decision to approve the latest development comes after the WAPC stated two and a half years ago to locals that its support for an eight-storey building on a nearby block – zoned for five storeys – would not set a precedent for the area, as there was no other appropriately zoned land in the vicinity for an apartment development.

Using its discretionary powers, the WAPC has decided to bypass the Hillarys Structure Plan, which designates the area for low-scale housing, such as single dwellings, duplexes, grouped dwellings, and townhouses.

In what was a packed meeting full of deputations from City of Joondalup officials and local residents strongly opposing the proposal, the Statutory Planning Committee ultimately voted 4-3 to approve the development application.

State planning officials dismissed the City of Joondalup’s recommendation to reject the development, citing its potential to provide housing options for ‘empty-nesters’ looking to downsize.

“Whilst it is acknowledged the proposal is in some regards inconsistent with the structure plan, the planning framework is out of date and, as it relates to the subject site, is not conducive to modern planning outcomes,” State planning officials stated in the report.

“The scale and density of the project is considered appropriate for the future context of the area and its role in creating a gateway statement for Hillarys Boat Harbour.

“The proposed development will meet the needs of an increasing number of ‘empty-nesters’ looking to downsize into alternative, smaller dwelling types in their local area.”

Camera IconAn artist impression of the seven-storey development set to be built. Credit: Supplied

Speaking in support of the proposal, WAPC chair Emma Cole said a key factor in her decision was that the site had remained vacant for decades, given its location next to a busy intersection, and she also believed the Hillarys Structure Plan was outdated

“I don’t believe this location has been attractive for low density development,” Ms Cole said.

“A critical factor has been that the structure plan is 25 years old and that the City of Joondalup has not sought to make any changes to that.

“Planning frameworks are intended to involve over time and in response to a changing context.”

The development will include 900sqm of external communal facilities, including a pool and associated outdoor space, as well as internal amenity rooms such as a dining area, lounge, and gym, alongside 2257sqm of publicly accessible landscaped gardens.

Additionally, 141 resident car parking bays will be provided across the basement levels, with 36 EV bays and 20 visitor parking bays.

When the application came before the City of Joondalup earlier this year, the council, through the director of planning and community development, stated that it did not align with the objectives of the Hillarys Structure Plan and that its height and density were inconsistent with the local area.

Mayor Albert Jacob led the council’s unanimous decision to not support the proposal, citing concerns over its height and the need for development in other parts of the city.

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“Joondalup council has made decisions for many years to actively incentivise high-rise development in the Joondalup CBD, which is unusual for a lot of other councils,” Mr Jacob said earlier this year.

“We have sought to honestly and openly create expectations for medium and high-rise for different points around our city . . . but here we have residents who bought on a very clear understanding of a three-storey limit, and they have an application which significantly exceeds that.”

Of the 539 submissions received during the public consultation, 76.2 per cent were opposed, 4.7 per cent were neutral, and 19.1 per cent were supportive.

According to the development report, the Minister for Planning was informed of the proposal in December last year and noted it without providing any feedback.

The WAPC stated that the increased density aligns with the State Government’s priority to deliver housing and reiterated that the Hillarys Structure Plan is outdated in response to community complaints over its height and density.

“The Hillarys Structure Plan, was adopted in the 1990s and was last amended 15 years ago,” they said in response to community concerns.

“The framework fails to identify the evolving needs of the community, the changing environmental conditions, and the advancements in the Residential Design Codes and broader planning framework.”

Locus Property’s website values the project at $130m, with a “premium collection” of ocean-view apartments expected to hit the market later this year.

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