BUSSELTON City Council has voted unanimously to demolish the Nautical Lady Tower despite more than 2,500 signatures and 100 plus submissions opposing its demolition.
Early last year the council approved plans for a microbrewery on the city’s foreshore, despite public opposition.
The location of the microbrewery will be the crown land at the rear of the existing Nautical Lady Lighthouse Tower which is adjacent to the Busselton Jetty.
As part of the Busselton Foreshore Redevelopment the tower and kiosk will be demolished to help restore the foreshore land and turn it back into public open space.
The city received 140 submissions on the new concept with 107 saying they did not support the proposal.
Busselton resident Glenys Cope presented a petition containing 2,650 signatures to City of Busselton mayor Ian Stubbs at the tower in November last year.
All councillors present at the January 28 council meeting voted to remove the tower.
Before councillors voted Ms Cope pleaded with them to listen to what the city rate payers wanted.
“Why does the council want the views of the community if they aren’t going to listen to them,” Ms Cope said.
“Council’s view is a small representation and you are supposed to be representing rate payers.”
According to Ms Cope most residents were not aware of the city’s intention to pull the tower down.
Accompanying Ms Cope was Busselton resident Margaret Brown who told the council she, and a number of residents strongly opposed the council’s decision.
“The tower belongs to the rate payers and if you decide to tear it down I’ll be back,” Ms Brown said.
“This isn't over.”
