Water table bursts at Civic Heart towers – The latest setback has cost the project at least $1 million, which would likely be passed onto buyers, and delayed completion even further.
The Finbar development was given final approval after Ms Saffioti employed rarely used legislative powers under the Planning and Development Act 2005 to “call in” the matter.
Water table bursts at Civic Heart towers site in South Perth – resident Vicki Redden
Part of her approval was three conditions relating to water management, including a dewatering, drainage and groundwater management plan, and Ms Saffioti sought further clarification on measures to address subsoil water seepage, building water-proofing and ‘100-year flood’ levels.
Major water issues occurred as early as 2017, and the sudden death of street trees along the median strip across from Civic Heart prompted residents to speculate about salinity and the South Perth council to consult arborists.
South Perth Peninsula action group president Vicki Redden questioned why the state government was not doing compliance checks on the project, given its special approval from Ms Saffioti and history of water issues.
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“They don’t learn. The JDAP refused Civic Heart three times, the local [South Perth] government is just the meat in the sandwich. It was the Planning Minister who came in to approve it,” she said.
“This is absolute incompetence from the relevant authorities, who should be keeping tabs on the project.
“The WA government is pushing all this high rise, yet they aren’t keeping a check on things, and ensuring the environment is being looked after.”
The state government sees Civic Heart as the focal point of luxury high-rise redevelopment it hopes will transform the South Perth peninsula into a major inner-city population hub.
The twin towers – bordered by Mill Point and Labouchere roads – would be visible from the CBD and Kings Park, forming a gateway and landmark for thousands of daily freeway commuters from the Narrows Bridge.
Finbar Group managing director Darren Pateman said the water issue was minor and expected equipment on site next week to seal the core area.
“This is the lowest area of the site and therefore has a thinner clay layer, which is currently allowing some water egress while the builder completes the concrete foundation work in this section,” he said.
But Ms Redden said apartment complex basements were still being flooded, trees nearby dying and a commissioned water report showed salinity levels in the water table would take 10-15 years to return to normal.
