The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has opposed Saracen Properties' $118 million proposal for a five-star resort in Gnarabup.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has opposed Saracen Properties' $118 million proposal for a five-star resort in Gnarabup.
Saracen Properties and Security Capital Australia are collaborating on the Gnarabup Headland development, which includes a 120-room hotel run by Marriott International's Westin Group.
The development application has been lodged to the state government's State Development Assessment Unit pathway.
A document recently obtained by community group Preserve Gnarabup shows DFES did not support the development application after assessing the applicant's bushfire management plan (BMP) in March.
"The proposal is intensifying land use in a bushfire prone area with only one point of access and egress," DFES said in its assessment.
"It is critical the bushfire management measures within the BMP are refined, to ensure they are accurate and can be implemented to reduce the vulnerability of the development to bushfire."
DFES advised the applicant to modify its BMP and found there was insufficient information.
Its advice found the applicant's proposal to use an on-site shelter was not a suitable alternative to two access routes.
DFES also advised further investigation to assess whether an on-site water supply would be required at the building permit stage.
Saracen Properties project director Joel Saraceni has been contacted for comment.
The Gnarabup Headland development was initially flagged as a $100 million project but Business News reported in December 2021 that costs have blown out to $118 million.
It has attracted considerable public interest, with the SDAU receiving 2,057 public submissions during the community consultation period early last year.
The SDAU advised it received 1,849 submissions against the proposal compared to 175 in support and 33 in support but suggesting changes.
Preserve Gnarabup spokesperson Beth Carlessi said Gnarabup had an extreme or catastrophic fire rating on many days in January and February.
"We also know these months are the peak tourist season when the number of people staying in Gnarabup and Prevelly will be at its largest,” she said.
“Doubling the population of the area by housing an extra 1,000 people will just put them at greater risk of death due to fire, along with all the existing residents of Prevelly and Gnarabup, and the tourists that already stay in the area and visit."
Ms Carlessi said if building a second access road was not effective, the population of Gnarabup and Prevelly should not be increased.
