Sutton Farm

This article reproduced from the April 2010 PMRA newsletter...

Following on from the debate in the Mandurah Mail about the future of Sutton Farm, local artist Marjorie Sharp is lobbying for the site to become an arts precinct. This is in response to the building application that has been submitted by the owner of the land, Cedar Woods, who want to build high-rise units around the heritage farm buildings. Understandably, there has been a great deal of opposition to these plans, and local residents would prefer the land to be developed along the lines of Edenvale in Pinjarra so that not only would the historic farm site be preserved for future generations, it would also be a draw for tourists. Given its attractiveness, its cultural heritage significance and its beautiful canal-side location only a short walk from the Bridge Quarter, Marjorie believes that Sutton Farm should be made available to the community and could be a culturally enriching site where:

● Everyone from school children to retirees could visit

● Visitors and local people could view and purchase artists’ work

● Teachers could teach arts and crafts, and hold workshops

A café would allow people to linger a while and enjoy their surroundings. "Sutton Farm would make a wonderful Arts Heart for Mandurah" says Marjorie. "It would bring joy to so many people and would be an icon in the community for all to visit". Marjorie is currently in negotiations with Cedar Woods and the City of Mandurah and is collecting expressions of interest from local residents and artists who are enthusiastic about supporting her project. To lodge your expression of interest contact Marjorie on 0419 193303 or at marjsharp@bigpond.com

This article reproduced from the February/March 2010 PMRA newsletter...

The Sutton Farm site is a heritage-listed conservation area in Apollo Place which is under the threat of modern high-rise high-density development. You may be interested to learn that in negotiating this area of the Port Mandurah development with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) in 1995, the owner of the land, Esplanade (Mandurah) Pty Ltd, committed to "include a Heritage Conservation Area of approximately 1.4ha to preserve the existing Sutton Farm Homestead and the ancillary buildings".

Read the EPA document here...

Some of our members have been in contact with the EPA and have been informed that it is not the EPA's responsibility but the City of Mandurah’s responsibility to ensure that they honour this commitment, as it was a condition of the Port Mandurah Stage 2B proposal.

Do you believe that:

1. It is the City of Mandurah's duty to ensure that this promise to Port Mandurah residents is kept.

2. High-rise units shouldn’t be built in established out-of-Town
residential areas which have been marked out for family homes.

If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, then please contact your elected members at PO Box 210, Mandurah 6210 and urge them to preserve the Sutton Farm area. 

15th December 2009

PMRA please let us know your views on this latest ODP:  Contact us by email - click here: 

A plan drawing of the ODP  at December 2009 is available - click here.

For comparison a plan drawing of the ODP at April 2008 - click here

PMRA members attended the Council meeting on 1st December 2009 at which the Outline Development Plan (ODP) by Cedar Woods (CW) was discussed. There was considerable opposition to several aspects of the ODP and a decision was deferred to allow Councillors to obtain more information before having to vote. The volume of e-mailed comments from the public re the ODP caused the City's computer system to shut down. However, we don't know whether they were in support or in opposition.

The proposal is for between 84 and 87 residential dwellings (87 if the heritage buildings are converted to residential) on the site, with 4 storey units opposite the end of Starfire Close and opposite Finistere Island adjacent to the main canal, with 2 storey units elsewhere on the site. CW has increased the open area around the heritage buildings in response to requests from the public at previous meetings and has reduced the number of dwellings adjacent to Apollo Quays to improve the view for some of the units in Apollo Quays.  However, CW have used the total area of the site (including the open area around the heritage buildings) in calculating the maximum number of units that could be erected on the site given its R40 rating. They have not included the maximum number in the ODP but this calculation and the increased open area around the heritage buildings has resulted in the 4 storey units with a density equivalent to R120.

The 4 storey units are higher than the current regulations allow and the drawings provided to the City by CW distorted (lowered) the height of these units by showing existing lamp-posts and trees at a greater scale than the building.

In summary the major issues are:

1. Owners of adjacent properties were told the site would only have 5 traditional house blocks facing onto the main canal, but are now (potentially) confronted with a massive solid block of a building.

2. The 4 storey building is higher than the current regulations allow (although there are criteria that give Council staff discretion to allow buildings to exceed the basic height restriction).

3. The style and density of housing along the main canal and around the corner are not in keeping with the scale, streetscape and character of the rest of the precinct.

We believe CW should be required to meet the same regulations as others who build in Port Mandurah.

PMRA is attempting to obtain the views of its membership re this ODP, and we propose to use the response to this email to determine whether members are in favour of or against the current ODP, so please let us know your views - send us an email - click here.

The Sutton Farm ODP is on the agenda of the Ordinary Council meeting for 15 December 2009 where they will consider the adoption of recommendations of the Planning, Community Development and Sustainability Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 1 December 2009.  http://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/minutes/2009/15december2009/index.html click here for the Agenda, see Item 16.2 for the minutes of the meeting of 1st December 2009 where the submissions and deputations of interested parties and the Council’s responses are detailed.

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Letter from City of Mandurah to Mr & Mrs Flaherty of 4th May 2009 Click here

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Letter to City of Mandurah re Sutton Farm(16th May 2008 )
Submission to COM on proposed Sutton Farm development
Read letter here.

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A summary of the meeting held on 12th May:

Approximately 60 people (including employees of the City and elected Councillors) attended the 12 May 2008 meeting hosted by the City of Mandurah as part of the consultation process in respect of this proposal. The major points arising from the meeting were :

1. Unanimous opposition to the 4 storey units with garage under proposed for the southern boundary (main canal) and south west corner of the property.

2. Virtually unanimous support for buildings on the site to comply with the standards imposed on the standards imposed on the rest of the precinct i.e. highest point on the buildings to be limited to 12 metres above ground level (the level as finished by the developer approx.1.5 – 2 metres above the canal wall). Most present were of the view that this would limit buildings with a conventially pitched roof to 2 storeys.

3. Concern was expressed re possible traffic problems on Old Coast Road as a result of additional traffic from this development.

4. Residents of Apollo Quays expressed concerns re loss of views, closeness of proposed buildings at the north west corner of the site, loss of parking space for boat trailers and traffic congestion at the outlet to Old Coast Road . (It transpired that owners of Apollo Quays are planning to fence off a public access along their western boundary).

5. Concern was expressed about the fact that Cedar Woods had previously given an undertaking to leave approx. 1.4 hectares of open space, whereas this proposal has less than one hectare of open space, closeness of proposed new buildings to heritage barn, strata titling of heritage buildings (which could lead to 3 separate owners with no common purpose) and possible flooding of the heritage buildings.

6. It was suggested that development of the site should leave the heritage buildings sufficiently isolated for them to still be attractive for photos of wedding parties.

7. There was a suggestion that Cedar Woods erect scaffolding or similar to indicate the height of potential buildings on the site.

There were other very minor issues discussed, but the above are the main items expected to be included with the individual submissions in the report to Council re the public consultation process.

Individual submissions are invited by close of business on 28 May 2008 .

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Early May 2008

PMRA has received information from the Planning and Projects Department of the City of Mandurah about the proposed development plan for 'Sutton Farm'. The City of Mandurah has adopted this Outline Development Plan for the purpose of advertising and inviting public comment.

As part of the advertising process, you have the opportunity to provide input into the ODP. If you wish to comment you should address these comments direct to the City of Mandurah .

Further details of this ODP are available at: http://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/council/planning/comment (you will need to scroll down as all ODPs are at this address). Written submissions on this ODP should be made to the City of Mandurah by no later than 28 May 2008 .  Accompanying reports for this ODP can be inspected at the City offices.

The City invites you to attend a Community Information Session on this matter on:

Monday 12 th May 2008 , between 7pm and 8.30pm at the Tuckey Room, Admin Offices, Mandurah Terrace. 

Please RSVP by Thursday 8 May 2008 by phoning the City on 9550 3748 or email:  planning@mandurah.wa.gov.au

The plan incorporates:

1. 2-storey terrace homes with garages off new row

2. 2-storey apartments with sub-basement parking

3. central open space

4. parking for future homestead use

5. 2-storey apartments over sub-basement parking.

6. 4-storey apartments over sub-basement parking

7. private jetties constructed & allocated in consultation with the Council

8. public jetty

9. retaining existing heritage trees

10. retaining existing pedestrian access way (under the bridge)

11. retaining existing barn, homestead & single men's quarters

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Letter from City of Mandurah April 2008 inviting PMRA to provide a submission at the 12th May 2008 meeting.  Click here: