Bid to reverse market KO

Developers behind thwarted plans for a $5 million marketplace behind Aldi have taken their battle to the State Administrative Tribunal in a bid to overturn local planners’ decision.

The proposal — slated for Lot 182 West Street, owned by Realview Holdings — draws inspiration from the historic Fremantle markets and would see a single-level 3170sqm pavilion-style building hosting indoor markets.

It would provide for up to 27 stallholders and would include an adjacent dining and licensed area, with an open floor catering for additional stalls and displays.

After initial struggles to classify the development, the South Joint Development Assessment Panel rejected the plans on January 29.

In a similar vein to the contentious Kmart and Aldi development applications, planners cited concerns about a fragmented CBD. “It will significantly detract from the commercial primacy of the Busselton City Centre,” the City of Busselton’s Maureen Dolan reported.

“It would allow for the creation of an ad hoc, unplanned activity centre, and it creates significant risks of unacceptable impacts on the amenity of nearby and adjacent residential development.”

Planning Solutions associate Ross Underwood confirmed an application had been lodged with the SAT, calling for a review of the SJDAP’s decision.

In a report prepared by the City of Busselton, officers argued the licensed area better fit the classification of a tavern.

And with the developer indicating the tavern might operate when other parts of the facility were not, coupled with its scale, the licensed area “cannot ... reasonably be considered as ancillary”, officers wrote.

The SJDAP’s presiding member Robert Fenn said he was unable to comment because the matter was now before the SAT.