Kate Chaney says ‘pendulum swung too far’ in giving State power to approve high-rises (24 Oct 2024)

Article summary: Teal independent Kate Chaney, MP for Curtin, expressed qualified support for high-rise developments in her western suburbs electorate, emphasising her opposition to "plonking skyscrapers into the suburbs" without community input. This sentiment arose in response to a proposal by investment group APIL to build an 18 to 20-storey apartment complex in Floreat Forum, the same precinct as her electorate office. Chaney voiced support for the Town of Cambridge's alternative plan to limit development heights to eight storeys and urged the State to withhold approval for APIL’s plan until the local council’s precinct structure plan is complete. "Plonking skyscrapers into the suburbs without adequate community consultation is not the way to win the hearts and minds for greater density, which we sorely need," she stated, stressing that early approval of APIL’s designs could further erode local trust in State planning.

The debate over high-rise development in Chaney's district reflects a broader discussion among independent MPs, as recent criticisms from Victorian independents about similar proposals in inner-city Melbourne highlight the complexity of balancing housing supply with community concerns.

WA Housing Minister John Carey responded, noting that they mandate a 28-day advertising period for complex applications and require that consultation letters be sent to all residents within a 200m radius of a proposal. In contrast, Chaney argued that "the pendulum has swung too far towards State control, away from local councils having a say." She cited community frustration with developments implemented without sufficient local engagement, saying, "Communities are unfairly shut out and frustrated because they're labelled as NIMBYs, even if they just want to have a say about their neighbourhoods."

Chaney highlighted the importance of thoughtful urban planning that incorporates community feedback, safeguards neighbourhood character, and includes green spaces, transport, and zero-net-ready infrastructure. Citing the Claremont Oval development as an example of successful density planning, Chaney underscored her belief that high-density projects can be positive when they consider the existing community's needs.

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