Subdivision plans near Wharton Beach raise questions from farming community
A farming community in Western Australia's remote south-east has questioned plans for a 300-block subdivision near one of the country's most pristine beaches.
Perth-based developer John Bestall wants to create a "holiday village-style" precinct on his 607-hectare property, 770 kilometres south-east of Perth and 60km east of Esperance.
His plans, submitted to the Shire of Esperance, propose 1-8ha lots that would suit rural residential living or tourist accommodation, given the famous Wharton Beach and Duke of Orleans Bay are a five-minute drive down the road.
He also believes the project would support the future development of a new town site in the area.
The Orleans Bay Road property currently contains a tree plantation that would be harvested prior to development.
Esperance's current local planning strategy already supports a future town site at Wharton Beach, opposite the existing caravan park.
The area is a popular tourist destination with visitors regularly driving from Esperance to fish, camp, surf and see the famous white sand beaches.
But the region is remote and has little infrastructure apart from the caravan park and services at Condingup, 25km to the north.
With his land currently zoned as rural, Mr Bestall has asked for support to change the classification to allow for additional tourism, conservation and residential use.
It also proposes creating "conservation covenants" and leaving 144 hectares as a large rural lot to protect native vegetation.
In Condingup, a hub and meeting point for the local farming community, the project has sparked plenty of discussion.
Marie Fowler, who farms in the area, believes long-time farmers wanting to retire locally would like the idea, while others would worry about its impact on the existing town.
"There's not an option [elsewhere] really to have that lifestyle block, a five-acre block or something a bit bigger," she said.
"So I think there is interest from that point of view.
But she said there was concern the new precinct may overwhelm Condingup as it could be more than three times its size.
She was interested to learn more as the process moved forward.
Peter Brown, a retiree who lives at the nearby caravan park, worried the development would put too much pressure on the area and lead to reduced accessibility to the coast.
"The Wharton town site, that's been spoken about ever since I can remember. Nothing ever happened with it," he said.
"Personally, I don't think it needs to be there."
While he said the region desperately needed housing, he believed it should be closer to Esperance or Condingup.
"From my perspective I hope it doesn't go ahead," he said.
"But … that's maybe just being selfish."
Esperance Shire chief executive Shane Burge said if the subdivision was to happen, the developer would be responsible for putting in public amenities such as roads and green spaces.
He said the shire would take on responsibility once it was finished, funded through rates paid by new property owners.
He said the area would likely also need its own water supply scheme.
But he said the idea was still a long way off.
"There is [community] concern," he said.
"We'll make sure if the planning commission do support it that it's widely put out there [for public feedback]."
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