source : the age
Planning documents show former lord mayor Basil Zempilas’ move to drop a 120-year-old home from a City of Perth heritage survey is a key justification in billionaire Gina Rinehart’s bid to demolish the property.
The development application, lodged by consultants for Rinehart’s family empire Hancock Prospecting, seeks approval to clear three office buildings and the Federation-style home at 27 Outram Street to make way for a $250 million multi-use development.
Concept designs for Hancock Prospecting’s $250 million office precinct in West Perth.Credit: Hancock Prospecting
The consultants highlighted there were no heritage constraints that would inhibit the plans, pointing to the City of Perth council’s decision in 2023 to drop the property, along with 15 others, from its heritage survey.
But there was no mention of Hancock Prospecting’s planning consultants lobbying the city not to elevate the building’s heritage status, nor the fact the decision divided council and went against the advice of city officers.
The property was one of more than 700 culturally significant places the city’s officers recommended be added or updated in its records as part of a state-mandated heritage survey, with an inspection finding the home substantially intact.
Officers stared down those who objected to the inclusion of 16 properties, recommending the council adopt the survey and reiterating their inclusion should not be conditional on owner support.
But at the meeting on March 28, 2023, Zempilas stepped in, moving an alternate motion to scrub the properties from the list that divided councillors until he used his casting vote to break the deadlock.
Revelations the home faced an uncertain future, coupled with the former Seven West Media personality’s well-documented relationship with Rinehart in the years since, have thrust the decision into the spotlight.
On Thursday, Premier Roger Cook said it was important politicians were transparent about their relationships to stamp out any perceived conflicts of interest, and said it appeared Zempilas had questions to answer.
Outside parliament the same day, the lord mayor-turned-opposition leader maintained he was “absolutely comfortable” the motion he moved two years ago did not warrant a declaration of impartiality.
Perth lord mayor-turned-WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas.Credit: Hamish Hastie
But he paused when asked whether he had been paid by Hancock Prospecting or its associated entities to MC events before the decision, before explaining he had been recruited to host countless functions during his 31-year broadcast career — some of which were paid.
“I’m doing my best to think back and work out whether any of those paid gigs were in the early days,” he said.
“To the best of my knowledge, standing here right now, I don’t believe so, but I am more than happy to go back through my private records and check that.
“I have been MCing events in Perth since 1994, and as I stand here right now, I cannot recall all of them in the 1990s and early 2000s where I may have or may not have received a payment.
“At this period [March 2023], I was not on the payroll.”
When asked whether he did Rinehart a favour, Zempilas was clear: “The answer is no. I was not asked by anybody.”
Zempilas stressed the site’s inclusion on the survey would not necessarily have had implications for its development, given it did not afford places legislative protection.
But the move prevented the property from being catalogued and its significance flagged during any assessment of the redevelopment plan.
The remarks came as the WA Planning Commission released detailed sketches of the development for public consultation, which was lodged via its expedited pathway for significant proposals.
Concept designs of Hancock Prospecting’s $250 million West Perth development.Credit: Hancock Prospecting.
The 120-year-old home — which this masthead revealed had sheltered returned soldiers, esteemed surgeons and a world-renowned artist — would be cleared to make way for a landscaped entry to a podium connecting two 12-storey towers.
At 62 metres tall, the proposed height is almost 18 metres above the maximum allowed.
The ground floor would feature a crèche and food and beverage offerings, with the first five levels to be occupied by offices.
Level six would be occupied by a formal dining area, with a pool terrace, gym, sauna and steam rooms distributed across levels seven and eight.
The top three floors are earmarked for five serviced apartments and a rooftop pool terrace.
The expedited pathway guarantees proponents a determination within 120 days and “extraordinary discretion” only in certain circumstances.
A spokesman for Rinehart declined multiple requests to answer questions on the development.
