The proposed rezoning from ‘Industry’ to ‘Commercial’ of Lot 20 King Street and Lot 21 Walker Street already accommodates a petrol station, auto workshop and industrial storage facilities.

Central to the proposed rezoning is an IGA supermarket.

For a number of years the Lancelin CCI has been striving to have the council progress the Lancelin Town Centre concept plan that was developed by John Bayly for the shire.

The concept plan clearly shows the town centre situated on Gingin Road between Rock Way and Vins Way with a proposed community and cultural centre and other commercial complexes.

New and established in the location have invested many tens of thousands of dollars in anticipation of the concept plan being developed.

Several shop owners told the Sun City News they were disgusted at what appears to be a sellout of the town centre for the benefit of one grocery chain operator.

The submission prepared by Joe Algeri, from Property Planning and Appeals Consultants, states: “The development of major retail functions outside of the area zoned ‘Town Centre’ contradicts the objectives and intent of the zone in dTPS9. Approving development of the locality’s largest retail and commercial function outside of this existing town centre is also contrary to the Shire of Gingin’s Commercial Development Policy and Lancelin Town Centre Policy.”

The consultant’s report concludes: “The proposed scheme amendments fails to promote any form of structured, cohesive commercial development in Lancelin; fundamentally the proposal is random and divergent to proper and orderly planning.”

Questions were raised about how a supermarket could be built next to intense obnoxious commercial industry.

Over the past few years, several new business operators have purchased and/or upgraded their businesses in the town centre area on the presumption that the town centre plan was still progressing and was still to be the main shopping area.