The developer behind a $280 million tourism project in Western Australia’s Southwest has officially dropped plans for a contentious beach access ramp amid strong community opposition.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced today that Smiths 2014 Pty Ltd, a company owned by Perth businessman Adrian Fini, requested the removal of the proposed universal access ramp from its luxury development at Smiths Beach, located about 250 kilometers south of Perth.
The access ramp had sparked considerable community criticism, with residents describing it as a “seawall” that could exacerbate coastal erosion and spoil the scenic views. The developer has denied the ramp was a seawall, stating it would have replaced an existing limestone ramp currently used by visitors, lifeguards, and emergency services to reach the beach.
The project is currently under environmental assessment by the EPA. A spokesperson indicated that removing the ramp would lead to a small overall reduction in the project’s development footprint.
The proposed development covers nearly 42 hectares, with about half designated for building structures. According to the developer’s documents, the ramp would have been 88 meters long, 2.5 meters high, and four meters wide, with a 10-meter rock wall on the ocean side.
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