Shire of Manjimup rejects planning application for motel in heart of town due to traffic management issues

A proposed motel in the heart of Manjimup has hit a development hurdle, with the Manjimup Shire Council unanimously opting to block planning approval due to traffic management issues. An application for the motel, situated on the corner of Rose and Ipsen streets and including 35 accommodation units, was submitted for planning approval last month. The proposed development backs onto Robbies Lane, a 5m-wide laneway with limited sightlines on to Ipsen Street, and a number of residents and business owners expressed concerns with how traffic in the area would be impacted. Shire president Donelle Buegge said the submissions were largely encouraging of the project, but wanted to see some specific issues addressed. “That laneway is used by residential and business. Being mindful of how that would impact those businesses, that was something we had to work on,” she said. “It was proposed to be (converted to) a one-way street, but that wasn’t going to be practical.” Despite the rejection, Cr Buegge said the council remained “very supportive” of the development. “We are working with the developer,” she said. “He met with the council a couple of meetings ago and was very easy. He took a lot of our suggestions on board for the other two developments that he’s putting in. “I’m sure these suggestions will go back and have a bit of a rework and it’ll come back again.”