Subiaco’s $64m civic revamp in doubt following community backlash of project being ‘unnecessary’ and ‘costly’

Subiaco council will likely throw out plans for a proposed $64 million civic precinct redevelopment, after a community survey showed widespread opposition to the plan. The plan would have seen a major transformation of the mid-section of Rokeby Road, including to the former council chamber and administration building and adjacent open public space. The project would include a new community hub and extensive landscaping, as well as the redevelopment of the adjacent Rankin Gardens into a new festival lawn. But a report on the redevelopment, presented to council on Tuesday night, has revealed widespread concern about the proposed plans, which prompted councillor Mark Burns to claim majority public sentiment “to stop the project in its tracks” was being ignored. “Why doesn’t this report say the CEO will give due consideration to stopping the bloody thing?” he said at the council agenda meeting. The community feedback report was compiled from 2006 responses to an online survey, community listening posts, postcards, direct engagement with the community and social media comments. More than one third (37 per cent) of responses were critical of the plans, compared to 28 per cent of responses that were positive, 23 per cent that were neutral and 12 per cent that were mixed. The negative feedback was concentrated around three themes - the loss of green space, the project’s huge cost, and that it was unnecessary. Respondents who supported the concept appreciated the current gardens and green space, wanted to see the space improved, and took pride in the city’s heritage and character. In the wake of the responses, Subiaco CEO Colin Cameron recommended the administrators, councillors and experts work together to revise its plans, so that they responded to the key concerns raised. A new report will now come back to council in the future with updated plans, including a business case, revised design brief, and project plan to guide a final decision. Mr Cameron said there had been five previous council resolutions that support the controversial redevelopment proceeding. “Until such time I had a resolution to stop a project then I have to go on the previous resolutions, in this case five, that council required me to deliver particular things,” Mr Cameron said. Council will vote on the recommendation to revise the plans at next week’s meeting on March 24.