Bunbury residents urged to have their say on plans for a proposed heritage area in Tree Streets

The Bunbury community has been urged to have their say as plans for a designated heritage area within Bunbury’s ‘Tree Streets’ goes out for public consultation. City of Bunbury councillors unanimously voted to begin advertising a proposed Tree Streets Heritage Area and its associated local planning policy to allow for residents and ratepayers to give their feedback. It comes several months after council resolved to support the proposal of a designated heritage area for the location, with the draft boundary consisting of William Street/Beach Road to the south, Wattle Street/Irwin Street/Picton Crescent to the west, properties along Sampson Road to the north, and Oakley Street to the east. The draft boundary was developed after independent heritage architect Stephen Carrick Architects conducted assessments of the area to identify properties that contribute to the heritage significance. Bunbury mayor Jaysen Miguel said the matter had come about through the City’s heritage advisory committee, with a document developed to spark the conversation around the community. “We’re now at a position where we’ve got a document which we can actually take out rather than previously where we sort of said ‘let’s have a look at what this may look like’ and it’s been very green, very new and more of an idea,” he said. “We’ve actually got a document now that outlines how it affects people, how it affects different landowners and how it will impact Bunbury so now we’re able to start a conversation about it. “I’m encouraging every single resident in that area to get in touch.” The City conducted a previous investigation into the cultural heritage significance of the area in 2004, but due to opposing views from the community, the finalisation of a heritage area never eventuated. While recent demolitions and new buildings triggered further consideration as part of the local heritage review, Mr Miguel assured it was not because of the council’s previous decision to refuse an application made to construct a two-storey childcare centre on Beach Road. “It is one of those things that has been raised again, potentially with areas and heritage areas becoming more of an asset for the City and people’s interest in heritage areas,” he said. “There’s also been conversation around it being triggered because of an earlier item. “It’s got nothing to do with that, it’s been in train well before that.” In December last year, councillors resolved to refuse an application made by Tecon Australia proposing the construction and operation of a two-storey childcare centre on the corner of Beach Road and Karri Street, an area that falls in a mixed use residential zone. While the 100-year-old house that existed on the property had since been demolished, the matter remains before the State Administrative Tribunal in mediation sessions.