The City of Bayswater mayor has lambasted Vicinity Centres over delays to the $350 million revamp of Morley Galleria during a meeting of state planners, declaring she had little confidence the project would eventuate without intervention.
The City of Bayswater mayor has lambasted Vicinity Centres over delays to the $350 million revamp of Morley Galleria during a meeting of state planners, declaring she had little confidence the project would eventuate without intervention.
By Jesinta Burton
February 12, 2025 — 12.16pm
The City of Bayswater mayor has lambasted retail giant Vicinity Centres over delays to the $350 million revamp of Morley Galleria during a meeting of state planners, declaring she had little confidence the project would eventuate without intervention.
The redevelopment — first floated in 2013 — was thrust back into the spotlight in December, when developer Vicinity Centres and co-owner Perron Investments sought a fourth amendment to the development approval it was granted in 2016.
The long-awaited redevelopment has evolved significantly over the past decade, including being scaled back and officially deferred in 2019 before being amended again in 2021.
In that time almost a dozen retailers have vacated the centre, prompting calls to action from the community, the City of Bayswater council and the state government.
The situation reached fever pitch as the amendment bid was moved, with the centre’s owners being handed a 6000-signature petition by Morley MLA Amber-Jade Sanderson demanding they sell up or begin the overhaul of the 31-year-old shopping centre and bus station it promised eight years ago.
But the proponent has staunchly defended its conduct, maintaining it had met its obligations under the original approval by substantially commencing works within the four-year deadline imposed.
The constraints of the state’s power to intervene were laid bare during a meeting of the Joint Development Assessment Panel on Wednesday, where city planning officers corroborated Vicinity’s position — that the only work required to meet the conditions of the 2016 approval was the relocation of a Water Corporation drainage basin.
City of Bayswater mayor Filomena Piffaretti questioned whether the wording of the condition meant the 2016 approval could continue indefinitely – a proposition confirmed by planning officials.
Piffaretti later moved a motion seeking to place a four-year deadline on other aspects of the development, arguing continued delays were having a significant impact on the community and expressing doubt about the developer’s commitment to the project.
“The condition the biggest ratepayer within our city — Morley Galleria — has fallen into is well publicised and there is significant interest from community and government gets underway as it has committed to for years and years and years,” she told the panel.
“The argument that the relocation of a water basin constitutes a substantial commencement of this entire development is just wrong; it has done absolutely nothing for the centre and the community.
“If we allow this development application to sit here active forever I have little confidence this will actually happen.
“I would ask you to consider whether it is in the best interest, and ask them to substantially commence what they have promised.”
The motion was backed by Bayswater councillor Joshua Eveson.
The proponent’s representative at Lateral Planning maintained the owners had met the conditions imposed, significant works had occurred, and that the companies had “significant issues” with the mandating of construction deadlines.
The panel was told the company still did not have a solid date for construction, which would be market led and hinge on inking lease deals.
While all three panel members agreed with Piffaretti’s sentiments, the motion failed after it was accepted that the state’s planning provisions would not permit the panel to impose new timeframes on an existing approval via an amendment to modify the floor plan and expand retail tenancies.
The minor amendment was then unanimously endorsed by the panel.
Jesinta Burton – is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in civil courts, business and urban development.Connect via Twitter or email.
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