A commercial building in Roleystone will be converted into a place of worship despite more than 95 per cent of submissions to the City of Armadale objecting the development.
Council went behind closed doors for 30 minutes and returned to pass the application 11-3.
Lot 500, 8 Wygonda Road, previously accommodated squash courts and a café as well as a single dwelling at the rear of the site, according to the council agenda.
“The application involves the conversion of an existing building to a place of worship accommodating a maximum of 120 worshippers,” the city said.
“The existing single house onsite is proposed to be retained as a residence.”
The place of worship will meet weekly for a Sunday morning service, monthly for a Sunday evening meeting and once or twice a month for youth group meetings.
In addition, irregular meetings and services would be held throughout the year, according to the proposal.
The city advertised the proposal and received 395 submissions of which, 383 objected.
“An increased in patronage of this scale will adversely impact the quiet residential amenity currently enjoyed by the community,” one contributor said.
“The cumulative impact of weekly, evening and weekend activities, including youth and community meetings, would result in a level of noise, activity and disturbance incompatible with the expectations of residents in a low-density residential area.”
Hills Ward councillor Scott Mosey said maintaining Roleystone’s village-feel was important.
“I think, clearly, this is incompatible with the existing use and the existing amenity of the locality,” he said.
Cr Sarah Stoneham was also against the proposal and said amenity was an important planning consideration.
“I’m opposing the recommendation primarily because I do believe amenity is a planning consideration and can be used as grounds for refusal,” she said.
“This has nothing to do with being anti-church or anti-religion but this is a planning matter and I believe the views of the community regarding the plan and their planning concerns are valid.”
Councillors Kerry Busby and Caroline Wielinga supported the proposal.
“We’ve got so many points there to protect us and help us get the best out of that amenity,” Cr Busby said.
“I remember many, many years ago… we had the same sort of situation out in Chruchmans Brook, with the church wanting to be there.
“Almost the same situation was presented to us – it’s going to be too noisy, there’s going to be too many cars, it’s going to affect the bush, it’s going to affect the neighbours.
“I believe it’s been operating for quite a long time now and I don’t remember any complaints ever coming through the council.”
Cr Wielinga said even if the application was revoked, someone else would want to use the site.
“It is a site that is being for sale that can be used,” she said.
“To suggest we can’t use it or no one should use it because we’re worried about what they’re going to use it for, it’s a bit of a slippery slope.”
In its proposal, the applicant submitted a transport impact statement (TIS), environmental acoustic assessment and arborist report with a site and soil evaluation to be provided, following council approval.
“The applicant has provided a TIS which demonstrates that the local road network can accommodate the amount of vehicle traffic produced by the proposal,” the city said.
“A noise management plan indicates that the use is capable of complying with the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 subject to appropriate construction and management conditions.
“A bushfire emergency evacuation plan has been provided which indicates that there are available evacuation routes.”
The officer recommended approval of the proposal if the applicant met the city’s 15 conditions.
