THE proposal for a caravan park, surf museum and tavern to be built on Hemsley Road in Naturaliste is currently open to public comment.
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In 2010 the development received approval for chalets, caravan and camping sites, an arts and crafts studio, surf museum and a brewery.
The new proposal hopes to extend the number of caravan and camping sites from 108 sites to 156 sites and amend the clause in the original approval that dictated that 85 per cent of the sites be available to the travelling public, as opposed to developed accommodation units, or on-site vans.
Town planner Michael Swift, who is acting on behalf of the developers said the restriction of 85 per cent was over the top and didn’t comply with council police.
“Originally the application was for a 200-site caravan park, the council reduced it to around 100, with a restriction that 85 per cent of the sites had to remain vacant for drive-in visitors,” he said.
The proposed surf museum, was approved in 2010 and amended in 2012 to function as a reception centre. In the proposal the museum is outlined as “one of the key drivers and the centre-piece for the proposal” .
Mr Swift said the surf museum was a major part of the development.
“Approval was issued a couple of years ago, but a complication arose on how the surf museum could be used and regarding the sale of meals in the brewery – it’s imperative to serve meals.
“It’s taken 18 months to resolve the rezoning for the restaurant component and to have the museum approved as a reception centre.
“My client has a massive private surf collection – the most significant collection in Australia and possibly the Southern Hemisphere, but it’s not viable as just a museum.”
A further concern raised in the original approval related to the safety issue of cars towing caravans becoming a hazard as they slowed for the Hemsley Road intersection from Caves Road.
Mr Swift said the developer had commissioned a traffic study and offered to contribute 15 per cent to an upgrade of the intersection.
“Main Roads have cleared vegetation from the side of the intersection which has improved it,” he said.
The period of public comment closes next Wednesday.
Mr Swift said he was confident that the proposal would be approved.
“I’m optimistic that the support will be ongoing,” he said.
