The state government’s expedited planning pathway has reported a flood of public submissions over Saracen Properties’ proposed Gnarabup resort, with close to 90 per cent against the development.
The proposed resort, which comprises a 120-room hotel on 13.73 hectares of coastal land 10 kilometres south-west of Margaret River, is part way through an approvals process through the State Development Assessment Unit.
The SDAU has advised that is received 2,057 public submissions on the development, with 175 in support, 33 in support but suggesting changes and 1,849 against.
Local action group Preserve Gnarabup spokesperson Beth Carlessi said the figures reflected how the community viewed the planned development.
“The submissions by individuals and organisations raise a wide range of really important concerns about the development,” she said.
“These issues are real and the developer can’t brush them aside.”
The development is also being assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority, after a flood of public submissions asking for the highest level of environmental assessment.
Saracen Properties project director Joel Saraceni told Business News he was open to public feedback on the development.
“We’re open to any constructive feedback on how to improve the development plans and we will review the submissions as part of the process going forward,” he said.
At the time the EPA review was announced, he told Business News the proposal adhered to all the planning guidelines.
“We have done an enormous amount of planning and environmental work to ensure our design is sensitive to the coastal environment and respects the local character of Gnarabup,” he said.
“We always welcome public scrutiny of our projects, so we are more than happy for this part of the approvals process to be conducted through a public process.”
Hotel group Westin signed on to run the resort, under umbrella company Marriott International.
The SDAU was established during COVID-19 to assess developments considered economically significant to WA.
The pathway has now expired, but the state government is considering introducing a similar mechanism as part of its planning reforms.
