Basil Zempilas says community is being ignored as 20-storey Floreat development set for green light

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has shared an AI image in protest of a proposed residential development in Floreat which has been recommended for approval by the State’s planning body, calling it “not right”. Mr Zempilas shared the image on Wednesday night in response to the Statutory Planning Committee’s November 5 agenda, which included a recommendation to back the private developer’s plans over the local government’s for revitalising the Floreat precinct. If voted for next week, investment group APIL’s plan would see residential buildings constructed up to 20-storeys tall, compared to the Town of Cambridge’s rival plan with a maximum of eight. Both plans would see a similar increase in dwellings of around 1000. In his post, Mr Zempilas questioned why the community was being brushed aside. “Many locals have expressed their disappointment to me directly this afternoon and tonight,” the post read. “Why consult with the community, why ask for their input, why ask them to meet a specific criteria with their own plan and then ignore them? “This is not right.” Speaking to The West Australian, Mr Zempilas said he thought there was no reason for the planning commission to reject the community-led proposal. “It’s little wonder that community right around Western Australia, think the State Government just don’t listen to community,” he said. “This is a crystallisation of that, the community have done everything that the planning framework requires. “They’ve gone to the trouble of coming up with their own plan that suits the community’s needs but satisfies the State Government’s planning requirements, and it appears as though they are going to be ignored.” Housing and Planning Minister John Carey was fired up in response to the post, accusing Mr Zempilas of reaching a “new low”. “Basil Zempilas has now reached a new low in terms of creating fear about density, despite the extraordinary issues that we face in the housing market,” he said. “He’s used an AI image, I mean you can’t make this up, he’s using an AI image to generate fear at a time when we need housing. “Also what’s clear is he doesn’t understand the planning system, the planning system is considered, there is a thorough process and I think it’s very disappointing.” He also pointed out Mr Zempilas’ page had liked a comment made on his post which accused Labor of “perpetuating a corrupt planning regime”. “Unlike the New South Wales Liberals that are backing in planning changes and reform, we have a Liberal leader that is spreading fear and mistrust, but actually endorsing attacks that suggest the planning system is corrupt,” Mr Carey said. The like, seen earlier by The West Australian was seemingly ‘unliked’ shortly after Mr Carey made his remarks. The recommendation noted the precinct was at the lowest point in the area, somewhat reducing the impact of the larger building size. “Despite its significantly taller building heights, the APIL PSP approach attempts to acknowledge ‘garden suburb’ qualities through landscaped areas at the public-private interface and minimising podium elements,” it read. “While buildings are taller, the human-scale experience at street-level can incorporate more landscaped and suburban character. “The approach also attempts to maximise solar access and views across the site through ‘slimmer’ building structures.” Mr Carey also responded to criticism that community views weren’t being heard by decision makers, arguing there was now more consultation than ever before. “Can I say this respectfully? We’ve enhanced community consultation from what the previous Liberal Government had done, we mandated new consultation requirements,” he said. “Ultimately the WA Planning Commission is an independent authority that will consider the advice, what doesn’t help it is when you have the leader of the Liberals spreading fear using AI imagery.”