Council to consider changing restrictions for Southwestern Fresh Fish home business operations

A region-favourite fish shop is looking to have two restrictions lifted on its home business approval, with city of Bunbury councillors to decide whether to grant the change during this week’s meeting.

Southwestern Fresh Fish in Glen Iris has had a licence to freeze and process fish since 2015, and a further council approval in 2019 allowed it to operate an “incidental” retail component of the business.

However, at the time of the approval several conditions were put on the Jubilee Road retail business including a time limit and a requirement for the business to cease if the lot had any rezoning, subdivision or further development.

The request by home and business owner Brian Scimone is now going back to the council as he is looking to subdivide the lot but leave the existing house and business intact.

Mr Scimone wrote to the city to request the change.

“Since starting the business, we have remained level in our operations,” he wrote.

“The building, staff and traffic levels have remained the same since 2019, when we (were) originally approved to operate.

“We have been offering a family-friendly service, and fresh fish off our boat. We are the only business to offer fresh fish sales to the South West.

“In the many years of operating, we have never received one report of any incidents, smell, traffic, dust or noise.”

Officer comments offered support for the removal of the conditions and said the request had to go before the council given it was the council that originally approved the conditions.

“City officers have reviewed the proposal against the relevant planning framework and consider that the development without the subject conditions will be consistent with the planning framework,” they said.