COPPER COAST DISTRICT COUNCIL

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning a question about The Dunes development and Copper Coast council.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: Last night, the District Council of the Copper Coast Environment Advisory Committee approved changes to planning requirements in relation to The Dunes development at Port Hughes. This decision is almost certain to be ratified at a full council meeting next Wednesday, just in time for a visit by Greg Norman, who is the nominal designer of the golf course forming part of the development.

The changes were proposed by The Dunes development consultants, Connor Holmes, in order for bigger houses to be able to be squeezed onto the small allotments. The main changes approved by the council committee relate to the setbacks of houses from the street. For two-storey houses, the development plan (which was written only four years ago) requires an eight metre setback; however, council is now about to approve a five metre setback.

The main concern with these changes is not the merits of various setbacks but that the council, at the request of the developers, apparently believes it is appropriate to unilaterally rewrite planning policy that is in direct conflict with the development plan that was the subject of public consultation and ministerial approval.

As members will be aware, this is not the first time that the conduct of the District Council of the Copper Coast has been brought into question in this place, nor the controversial Dunes development. Before the Hon. Bernard Finnigan asks, I will say that, yes, Nick Bolkus is also involved. My questions are:

1. Is the minister aware of the use by this council, or any other council, of council decisions to relax or subvert planning policy set out in approved development plans without any public notification?

2. Does the minister support this practice?

3. Will the minister investigate whether or not the Copper Coast council is breaching its statutory responsibilities in relation to planning?

4. Will the minister consider transferring the council's powers in relation to development approval to the Development Assessment Commission until the council's fitness to act in this role is determined?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:21): I was not aware of particular allegations, if you can call them that, although I suppose they are not necessarily allegations but the set of circumstances. I am not aware that the Copper Coast council was considering decisions in relation to this particular development. I will undertake to investigate the matters raised by the honourable member, and I will reserve any further comment until I have the results of that information.