THE City of Kalamunda council has refused a development application for a funeral home in Wattle Grove.

The officer’s recommendation was that the funeral parlour be approved, however no other councillors would second Mayor Margaret Thomas’s motion to support the recommendation.

An alternate motion was then presented by councillor Brooke O’Donnell which recommended refusal.

The motion was seconded by councillor Mary Cannon and passed with all councillors in favour except for Mayor Thomas.

In her closing statement for the motion, Cr O’Donnell said that councils should remain fearless when making planning decisions provided they have identified genuine planning considerations.

“The (State Administrative Tribunal) is a process that we can and may have to go through,” she said.

“But I believe that if council makes a genuine positive decision upon the nature of all the facts and
circumstances that we should not use that as a reason to make a decision or not make a decision because of a potential financial burden.”

The proposed funeral parlour was set to be developed on Hale Road in Wattle Grove and would have been operated by Seasons Funerals.

Seasons Funeral general manager Vanessa Wilson said the company was extremely disappointed by the decision but also clearly heard the community’s concern with having a funeral parlour within the neighbourhood.

“We are a passive business that operates quietly and with dignity for the families we serve, but we also understand the stigma that comes with being a funeral home,” she said.

“We’ve heard the community and respect their wishes.”

In Wattle Grove residents petition against funeral parlour a petition against the proposal with over 700 signatures was due to be presented to council.

At Tuesday’s ordinary council meeting, a further 18 signatures were added to the petition, bringing the total number of signatures to 784 residents against the development.