Karrinyup West development moves forward as State planning officials block City of Stirling’s parking concerns

The City of Stirling has warned State planning officials that the parking situation around Karrinyup Shopping Centre could worsen as the West Karrinyup Towers development moves forward after a recent last-minute effort to address its parking bay shortfall failed. Last week, at the Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel meeting, the city requested that a condition be added to the West Karrinyup Village development application, requiring a revised plan be submitted that addresses the parking shortfall. The city argued a shortfall of one to 11 bays resulting from changes to the development application approved by the DAP in August 2022 will exacerbate existing congestion and strain parking resources in the area surrounding the shopping centre. The $300 million West Karrinyup Village development, featuring two towers of 14 and 23 storeys with 253 apartments, has already sold more than 50 per cent of the apartments, according to project managers Blackburne Property Group. Since the development’s 2022 approval, modifications relevant to the car parking assessment have been proposed, including an increase in the number of commercial tenancies from two to six, prompting the city to create the new condition. City of Stirling senior planning officer Karina Bowater warned the DAP that the parking shortfall will worsen the area’s troubles. “There are well-documented issues related to parking at, and access at, the Karrinyup Shopping Centre site, with significant car parking issues reported in the media since the expanded shopping centre opened,” Ms Bowater said. “The proposed allocation is likely to further exacerbate these car parking issues.” Since Karrinyup Shopping Centre underwent a recent $800m, three-year redevelopment, expanding from 59,874sqm to 109,000sqm, parking problems have plagued the area, leaving locals frustrated. Last year, a survey of more than 6000 RAC members ranked Karrinyup Shopping Centre as the second riskiest carpark in Perth. Voting against implementing the city’s condition, Clayton Higham, deputy presiding member of the DAP meeting, did not believe the changes would have an impact on the area. “I accept that there are parking problems around the Karrinyup Shopping Centre but I’m not sure that these sort of changes to ratios are going to go anywhere near solving the problem or worsen the issue,” Higham said. “I think people will decide with their feet or cars whether they go there or not if the parking is so difficult in that area.” Stirling councillor Michael Dudek took issue with this comment, arguing that the parking situation had already reached a critical point. “I don’t think that’s the case and anyone familiar with this location will know that,” Cr Dudek said. “You’re half true that people will vote with their feet or their car, but they’ll park illegally, which is the issue that we’re dealing with. “So I think we do need to provide proper planning and allow for places for these people to park at the development if this is to go ahead.” DAP member Karen Hyde also acknowledged the concerns but expressed hesitation about revisiting broader development issues in the area. “I do understand that there are parking issues which are perhaps created by overall development, however what we have before us are a number of minor modifications and I don’t feel it’s appropriate to go back to what is substantially an issue with the overall development,” Hyde said. The panel ultimately voted 3-2 against the city’s proposed condition, allowing the development to proceed despite the parking bay shortfall. Following the DAP decision, at this week’s council meeting, City of Stirling Councillor Tony Krsticevic moved a motion for the City to prepare a report reviewing traffic, pedestrian, and road safety issues surrounding Karrinyup Shopping Centre. The motion was passed unanimously, with the findings set to be presented to the Community and Resources Committee on May 20, 2025.