Safety Bay and Golden Bay developments gain approval despite concerns from Rockingham councillors

Construction of a daycare centre and service station will go ahead, despite objections from Rockingham councillors over concerns about potential impacts of a dangerous carcinogen. State planners outvoted councillors at the March 12 Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel meeting, securing a majority to approve a childcare centre on Malibu Road in Safety Bay. Rockingham council previously rejected the application in September 2023 over concerns about its proximity to an existing service station and again recommended its refusal at its February meeting. Councillors were concerned about potential public health hazards, particularly the impact of fuel vapour and the hazardous compound benzene, with Cr Caroline Hume telling the council meeting a low risk of exposure was unacceptable. However, resident submissions to the panel objecting to the proposed development mainly cited worries about increased traffic and noise caused by the centre. The three State-appointed panel members voted to approve the development, with changes to two conditions to provide additional screening to the adjoining northeast property, saying in the reason for their decision that the application conformed with the area’s planning framework. The decision said the revised proposal complied with issues associated with traffic, noise and parking, and the “relatively small size” of the centre — which will cater to 60 children — would reduce potential noise and parking impacts on nearby homes. “The proponents have also demonstrated ... that the reduced buffer distance to the existing service station opposite the (centre) will not result in unacceptable impacts under the applicable Environmental Protection Policy,” it said. State planners also approved a mixed commercial development on Aurea Boulevard in Golden Bay, comprising a service station, supermarket, retail stores and a liquor store, close to two existing childcare centres. The proponent had appealed to the State Administrative Tribunal following rejections by the council and panel last year. Rockingham councillors Lorna Buchan and Mark Jones again voted to refuse the development but were outvoted by the State panel members, who found the application was compatible with relevant planning policies. A decision published in the meeting minutes said a “primary issue of concern” was a perceived public health risk from the proposed service station being built opposite two existing childcare centres. It said an emissions impact statement and independent environmental assessment found the benzene emission from the service station were “unlikely to pose an unacceptable risk to human health” at the centres.