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Revised plans for a guesthouse high on the ridge overlooking Injidup Beach have been criticised by local residents concerned that the increased size of the buildings will visually scar the pristine coastline.

Yallingup resident Laurie Schlueter said this was the first construction application for a substantial building on the Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge and would set the standard for other applications that would follow. He said the first proposal for ten one bedroom suites was now ten separate pods with two bedrooms and two bathrooms and bore no resemblance to most people's understanding of a guesthouse. "This development cannot meet the principal thrust of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge Statement of Planning Policy of low impact development," he said "It is all about minimising, not maximising and it is encumbent on council to create standards that reflect this." "In my opinion it is too big a footprint on this piece of land."

Injidup resident of 14 years Gail Taylor said she was also concerned that the guest house would have a big visual impact on the area.

Long time campaigner for Injidup Ross Chambers supported the concerns of local residents at council's executive meeting last week, saying the length of building on the ridge would be an eyesore from the coast. He said residents had not had the opportunity to comment on the positioning, scale or design of the buildings and the shire's town planning scheme definition of guesthouse did not fit the new proposal. "I urge all residents to look at these plans and write to council during the advertising period because this coast belongs to everyone," he said.

Injidup resident Judy Fisher said the new design that was worked out between the developer and CALM dealt at face value with CALM issues, but because of the increased size a greater magnitude of problems were created. She said it was vital to get it right and ensure the visual impact was reduced. Mrs Fisher said everything in the development referred back to the memorandum of understanding drawn up in 1995 between the shire and Yallingup Holdings but no one seemed to know exactly what was contained in the document, making it difficult to make an informed comment.

The staff report to council said the MOU said that the land owned by Yallingup Holdings could accommodate eleven building sites (ten houses and one guesthouse containing ten suites), 38 rural residential lots, two sites of approximately 30 and 45 hectares and the gifting of the balance of the land (640ha) to the Crown for the the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.

The agreement was subject to a submission to the WA Planning Commission of subdivision and strata applications and both of these had been approved by the WAPC in October 1998.

Yallingup Holdings project coordinator Ben Charnaud said the company had development approval for the ten blocks which included the guest house on the ridge. He said after the objections received during the first advertising period the company had worked closely with CALM (which was one of the objectors) and council staff to get the right environmental design that had low impact.

"The new design is environmentally appropriate and has economic viability," he said. He said a visual assessment report by John Cleary Planning had agreed the new deign reduced the visual impact and CALM also supported the plans. "We have followed processes required by council and all authorities and ensured the environmental study and fire management plan were completed. "I am happy to bring the architects and sit down with the residents to hear what they have to say to improve the design and reduce the visual impact," he said.

Mr Charnaud said the gift of 640ha of land to the Crown would go ahead as agreed.

Cr Helen Shervington proposed that council advise Yallingup Holdings the memorandum of understanding between the landowners and council issued in January 1999 was for a guest suite comprising a maximum of one bedroom and one ensuite. The motion called for a fire management plan to be submitted and that the applicant amend the current plan to address both issues.

The motion required the plan to be advertised for 21 days for public comment and then referred back to council for consideration.

A full council meeting today will consider the motion.

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