Booragoon residents say the character of their quiet suburban streets will be irreparably damaged if their council forges ahead with plans paving the way for higher density development in the area. The City of Melville has proposed changes to its local planning scheme that would allow apartments four storeys or higher in streets located in the shadow of the Westfield Booragoon Shopping Centre. Homeowners along a suburban street in Booragoon are concerned about a proposal to increase density.
Credit: Ross Swanborough The Scentre-owned shopping centre is due for expansion next year. The Ramble resident Kim Thomson bought her property in 2022 and said it was “confronting” that the street she lived on, considered part of the dress circle of Booragoon, had been earmarked for increased density from R20 to R40 on one side of the street, and R40 to R100 on the other side of Marmion Avenue. “R100 is a drastic increase for a suburban street, especially one with a primary school on it,” she said.
“This is not a run-down area requiring refurbishment, it is a well established street which already includes many strata properties and one of the higher R-codes within the suburb. “We understand urban infill is a much-needed requirement for the housing crisis in Perth but the council’s pursuit to liberally increase R-codes throughout the City of Melville seems like a cavalier and irresponsible method to increase density at the cost of the livelihoods of the current residents.” .