Media Statements - Conditions placed on Barrack Square Hotel proposal

25/9/00

Water Resources Minister, Dr Kim Hames said rigorous safeguards and conditions need to be met on the proposed Old Port Hotel at Barrack Square before he will give approval for it to go ahead.

“There are 32 environmental, heritage, design detail, and operational conditions which will need to be complied with, as well as obtaining Aboriginal heritage clearance, before final consideration can be given to the proposed Old Port hotel at Barrack Square, “ Dr Hames said.

“Barrack Square forms an important link between the river and the City and we want to ensure that every safeguard is taken so that it does not unduly impact on the environmental quality of the Swan River.

“The values of the Swan River, and the important place the river has in the lifestyles of Perth residents are being carefully considered and we want to make sure the public amenity of the river and its foreshores are maintained.

“The proponents have come up with a good design that complements existing buildings at the Old Perth Port and the redevelopment that is currently going on at the Barrack Square jetties,” Dr Hames said.

The hotel would be the final stage of the Old Perth Port Development that has been planned and leases issued since the early 1990’s when the developers proposed a mix of retail and commercial outlets on the site.

“The three and four storey hotel development is located between the restaurant and the WA Rowing club and ensures the historic club will maintain its own identity,” Dr Hames said.

From the third round of public consultation 160 submissions were received of which 83 were in support of the proposal.

The conditions are a result of recommendations made by the Swan River Trust after extensive consultation with all other authorities including the Perth City Council, WA Rowing Club, Heritage Council and the Environmental Protection Authority.

(Conditions attached)

Media contact: Sandy Gater 9424 7450

BARRACK SQUARE OLD PORT HOTEL PROPOSAL

Conditions to be met before final approval of the development of a Hotel at Barrack Square, Barrack Street corner Riverside Drive, Perth as submitted in revised plans received by the Swan River Trust dated 31 March 2000:

Site Development

The applicant shall conclude negotiations with the Department of Transport for the variation of the current lease terms and area to accommodate the development prior to the issue of a building licence. These terms shall cover any requirements the Department of Transport in consultation with the Swan River Trust, has concerning implementation of the development.

Proposed use and development for Hotel purposes shall be contained within the identified lease area and shall comply with the terms of the Lease of the river bed to the satisfaction of the Department of Transport.

Utilities including bin storage and air conditioning plant shall not be visible from the public domain. Detailed plans showing the location of plant shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the Heritage Council of WA and the Ministry for Planning.

Selected building materials and colour scheme for the development shall be of low reflective standard and harmonise with the river environment and Old Perth Port character. Plans demonstrating the colour scheme and external building materials and finishes shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the City of Perth, Ministry for Planning and the Heritage Council of WA prior to the issue of a building licence.

The applicant shall construct, or arrange for the construction of a cantilevered boardwalk on the southern and eastern sides of the development. Detailed engineering drawings of the type and construction of the boardwalk shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the Department of Transport prior to the issue of a building licence.

Pedestrian access along the public boardwalk between the hotel and the food/retail areas shall provide a minimum pedestrian clearway of 2.5m. Plans of the pedestrian access shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the City of Perth.

The plan and finishes to any access road and pedestrian walkways associated with the hotel development shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the Heritage Council of WA prior to the issue of a building licence.

No portion of the development shall project into the road reserve.

The proposed verandah shall be constructed at a similar height and scale as the existing verandah attached to the Old Perth Port buildings and shall be a minimum of 600mm from the kerb. Plans of the verandah shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the City of Perth.

No building materials, rubbish or any other deleterious matter shall be allowed to enter the river as a result of the development.

During the construction of the development, works shall not prevent the launching and recovering of boats from the ramp at the WA Rowing Club or normal rowing activities. Public access along the foreshore shall be available at all times. The Swan River Trust and the City of Perth may direct the removal of obstructions which may prohibit public access or normal rowing activities during the construction phase.

The applicant shall provide a minimum of 20 car parking spaces for hotel patrons/occupants within privately owned or public car parks in the vicinity of the hotel development. Evidence of the arrangements made for car parking shall be submitted for approval by the Manager Swan River Trust on advice from the City of Perth prior to the issue of a certificate of occupancy.

The applicant shall submit details on adequate methods of servicing the proposed hotel, including the location of a loading / unloading bay between the hotel and the adjacent development at Barrack Square for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the City of Perth and the Department of Transport, prior to the issue of a building licence.

The applicant shall ensure the provision of continuous (24 hr) public access for pedestrians around the hotel at all times.

The applicant shall submit a maintenance program to ensure the retention of the exterior quality of the development for the life of the development. The maintenance program shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the Ministry for Planning prior to issue of a certificate of occupancy.

ENGINEERING MATTERS

The applicant shall repair or reconstruct the river wall in the vicinity of the hotel foundations to the requirements of the Manager, Swan River Trust. Plans of the works shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust prior to commencement of construction works. The applicant shall liaise with the Manager Swan River Trust, Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Perth on the issues associated with the river wall prior to the submission of plans.

The development shall be connected to the reticulated sewer system. All wastewater including kitchen and floor washing shall be connected to sewer.

Plans of the stormwater drainage system shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the City of Perth and the Department of Environmental Protection prior to the issue of a building licence. The applicant shall consider options to extend the pipeline out into the river, or change its location to redirect stormwater elsewhere or make provision in the design of the hotel to gain access beneath the hotel superstructure. Stormwater management shall ensure that there is no direct discharge of stormwater to the river from areas accessed by vehicles. Roof stormwater can be channelled into the river (see Advice Note 1).

The applicant shall submit a management plan addressing waste management (particularly from the kitchen component of the hotel development to ensure no wastes enter the river), sewerage, rubbish and other service pollution prevention methods to be employed. The management plan shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust prior to the issue of a building licence (see Advice Note 8).

The applicant shall submit an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) describing the management of the environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the hotel development to the satisfaction of the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Perth. The EMP shall outline monitoring protocols that ensure management objectives are met. The EMP shall include details for the management of environmental and related issues associated with construction and operation, including but not limited to the following:

construction materials storage, including hazardous goods, materials transport, storage areas, loading and unloading of materials, river access etc;
contingency measures in the event of spills or ruptures of underground services;
management of turbidity, vibration and impacts on benthic flora and fauna during both construction and operational phases;
vibration associated with pile driving works or works to the river wall;
construction wastes; and
public safety and access.

The applicant shall prevent deterioration in local water quality that may occur as a result of the hotel construction works (including turbidity associated with pile driving and river wall works) or the resultant development. Silt curtains or other pollution control devices shall be used to prevent adverse impacts on local water quality. The applicant shall submit a management plan demonstrating the method(s) employed to protect water quality. The management plan shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the Department of Environmental Protection prior to the issue of a building licence.

A detailed noise management plan (addressing construction and operational noise including any vibration from pile driving operations), as required by sub-regulation 13(4) of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 shall be submitted and approved by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the Chief Executive Officer, Department of Environmental Protection (see Advice Note 10).

Construction activities shall comply with Australian Standard 2436-1981 and the Environmental Protection Noise Regulations 1997, to the satisfaction of the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the Department of Environmental Protection.

The applicant shall investigate non-impact pile driving options. The preferred option shall be approved by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the Department of Environmental Protection.

Steel off cuts from pile driving shall not pollute the river bed and be disposed of off-site in a manner approved by the Waste Management Division of the Department of Environmental Protection.

The applicant shall notify the Manager, Swan River Trust immediately should a pollution incident arise during construction works.

Any damage or disturbance to the foreshore or existing structures, including the river wall shall be remedied at the applicants expense. In the event of damage or disturbance of the foreshore, structures or river wall, plans of repairs/remediation shall be submitted for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust.

The applicant shall provide a detailed plan / program addressing the method of management for the regular collection and clean up of flotsam and seaweed within the lease area for the development and particularly underneath the Hotel development and in the re-entrant corner between the river wall and Barrack Square for approval by the Manager, Swan River Trust on advice from the Department of Environmental Protection prior to the issue of a building licence. The approved plan/program shall be implemented as part of the development and thereafter. (The Trust is aware of the long standing problem of accumulation of flotsam and seaweed in the re-entrant corner between the river wall and Barrack Square. The construction of the piled hotel over the area will exacerbate the problem and prevent access to the area for clean up.)

GENERAL

The design of the development shall accommodate disabled access.

Details of advertising signage shall be submitted as a separate and comprehensive application to the Swan River Trust and referred to the Ministry for Planning, Heritage Council of WA and the Department of Transport for consideration. Any advertising proposed shall be generally consistent with signage at Old Perth Port.

An archival photographic record of Barrack Square with particular regard to view-sheds that will be impacted on by the Hotel shall be submitted to the Manager, Swan River Trust and forwarded to the Heritage Council of WA.

The proponent shall notify the Swan River Trust Manager in writing fourteen days (14) prior to the commencement of works.