As tourist numbers grow in the Shire of Denmark, Council is trying to find a balance between facilitating sustainable economic development and managing the impact of increasing visitation while ensuring the preservation of Denmark’s ‘village feel’ and the area’s pristine environment.
At the November Ordinary Council Meeting held yesterday, Council voted to recommend to the WA Planning Commission (WAPC) that a property on South Coast Highway near William Bay undergo a zoning change from ‘rural’ to ‘tourism’.
In line with the Shire’s Sustainable Tourism Strategy and draft Local Planning Strategy (which is in its final stage of public consultation), Council supported the change to make tourism related activities possible on the property but has not provided the green light for any specific developments.
If the WAPC accepts the recommendation to rezone the property, the size and scale of any potential tourism related development at the property would be subject to public consultation and consideration of stakeholder concerns such as environmental, bushfire, visual amenity, density and more.
Denmark Shire President Kingsley Gibson said last night’s decision is not the end of the process for approvals at the site.
“This rezoning has generated a lot of community interest so I’m very keen to make sure our community knows we are able to address the concerns which have been raised during the public consultation process,” Cr Gibson said.
“Things like road safety, visual amenity, environmental pollution and others can be addressed by imposing controls on development, which would occur during the approvals process.”
“There will be further opportunities for our community to have their say again when formal applications on that site are submitted.”
Community expectations and priorities guide Council decision making through the Strategic Community Plan, Sustainable Tourism Strategy, Sustainability Strategy and the draft Local Planning Strategy.
Important Links
Strategic Community Plan Sustainable Tourism Strategy Sustainability Strategy Draft Local Planning Strategy (currently out for comment)