City of Greater Geraldton councillors hesitant to approve development application from Batavia Inne owners

City of Greater Geraldton councillors deciding the fate of a development application for the infamous Batavia Motor Inne site have expressed concerns about the trustworthiness of the owners.

The owners of 54 Fitzgerald Street have submitted a development application to the council to turn the last building left on site into 21 short-stay serviced apartments.

The council’s executive staff have recommended councillors approve the application, with a raft of conditions.

At the city’s agenda forum on Tuesday, director of infrastructure services Ryan Hall explained to councillors that giving the application the green light would allow the owners four years to begin construction.

The recommended approval comes amid ongoing legal action the city launched against 54 Fitzgerald Pty Ltd — one of three directors being Joe Scaffidi, the property developer husband of former Perth lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi — over alleged failure to comply with the demolition order, by not tearing down the last building known as wing six.

Cr Peter Fiorenza questioned where this development application would leave legal proceedings.

Mr Hall explained there was a variety of legislation “occurring simultaneously . . . the owners have sought approval under the Planning and Development Act” which means the city is obliged to consider the application.

“It has been assessed and is found to meet the requirements, and any areas where it hasn’t it has been conditioned to make sure it does,” he said.

Cr Fiorenza added: “So now they’re (the owners) saying they want to do something with part of it. Their history doesn’t suggest they could possibly go through with what they’re suggesting. Should we be trusting them?”

The proposed tick of approval comes with 15 conditions, including giving the owners a four-year window to start construction, ordering that rubble be removed and disposed of before occupation, that there be appropriate parking and outdoor lighting and that plans must not be changed without council approval.

Cr Michael Librizzi asked what constituted “commencing construction in the four-year period”.

“Can they just put a fence up and then that sits there for another 10 years?” he asked.

Mr Hall responded by saying: “Commencement is a grey area, I would say genuine work includes a fence and beginning renovations”.

Despite councillors clear reservations towards approving the development, Mr Hall explained the city was “hoping there’s something in it for the landowner, and we actually see the rubble removed”.

“The strategy has been to get it demolished because of the antisocial behaviour,” Mr Hall said.

After multiple attempts by the council to buy the land, negotiate a resolution and take legal action against the owners, the majority of the site was demolished last year.

The eyesore has been a community headache for more than a decade, attracting squatters, antisocial behaviour and criminal activity.

Councillors will vote on the development application at next Tuesday’s monthly meeting.