3 Oceans Scarborough site trashed

Vacant land earmarked for a Scarborough skyscraper has become an eyesore after a multi-million-dollar project by 3 Oceans Property continues to stall.

Chinese developer 3 Oceans last year withdrew its application to DevelopmentWA to build its 'Iconic Scarborough' project the corner of Scarborough Beach Road, West Coast Highway and Filburn Street.

It was the company’s third iteration of the plan, featuring 370 apartments across three towers of 46, 20 and 16 storeys and a 512-bay carpark.

In 2018, 3 Oceans received approval for a $450 million project on the site but the project was placed on hold after being deemed financially unviable.

The site had since been regarded as an “eyesore”, according to City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin in his notice of motion to council last night.

“It is unsafe for the public with drug deals, fires, and the destruction of property now the topic of locals who witness the people occupying and visiting the site,” the council agenda said.

The 3 Oceans Scarborough site. Photo: Felicity Farrelly

However, city community development director Michael Quirk said actions have been taken after a meeting with 3 Oceans, Scarborough MP Stuart Aubrey, Scarborough Police and Department of Communities last week.

“As a result, fencing around the site has been repaired over the weekend so the site can no longer be accessed,” he said at the council meeting.

“The city also completely cleared the site yesterday, so all of the rubbish litter and, unfortunately, syringes have been completely removed from the site.

“WA Police are now enforcing trespassing in a much more vigilant manner and we’ve got Department of Communities assisting us with anyone who choose to sleep rough on the site.

“Having said that, there’s no one sleeping rough on the site at the moment.”

Business News understands 3 Oceans has no plans for the Scarborough site at this time, with the North Fremantle development taking priority.

It is understood the company was planning to take the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal after a development panel knocked back the $185 million proposal on 130 Stirling Highway.

The Metro Inner-South Joint Development Assessment Panel recently refused a $185 million project at the former Ford Motors and Matilda Bay Brewery site in North Fremantle.

Leederville-based Parcel Property along with Rowe Group, Cox Architecture and the consultant project team are managing the proposed North Fremantle development, named the Assembly, on behalf of the landowner 3 Oceans.

Reasons for refusal cited by the panel include issues around traffic circulation, retention of the heritage building and the proposed mix of land uses.

At the meeting last night, the council unanimously approved Mr Irwin to write to relevant parties, as an urgent plan of action to mitigate the broken fencing, derelict buildings and rubbish littering on the site.

“Just the motion itself has been successful in getting some action,” he said.

Two people who were living on the Scarborough site have been rehomed, Cr Stephanie Proud said at the meeting.

“We’ll meet at 3 Oceans (Scarborough) again in a couple of weeks’ time to get activation opportunities for the site given the fact that development is likely to be some years away,” Mr Quirk said.