Patrick Gorman criticized the City of Stirling after it rejected a proposed 50-unit social housing development on Beaufort Street in Inglewood, Perth. The April 11, 2025 report framed the dispute as a clash between the need for more housing and the council’s concerns about the particular proposal—not as a new decision in 2026.
What was proposed on Beaufort Street?
PerthNow reported that the rejected plan was for a $22 million complex containing 50 social housing units on what the article described as an underused car park. The intended residents were people approaching or in retirement. Those project details are reported by PerthNow; the available sources do not include the original application or formal decision record.
Why was Patrick Gorman frustrated?
Gorman, then Perth MP and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, argued that Perth needed more social and affordable housing and criticized what he saw as local barriers to building it. PerthNow quoted him saying: “It’s really frustrating when local governments look for any excuse to block housing”. His criticism focused on the broader housing need and the effect of rejecting a project intended to provide social housing.
What reasons did the City of Stirling give?
PerthNow reported several objections raised by council officers and the mayor. They were planning concerns attributed to the City, not independently adjudicated findings about whether the proposal complied with requirements.
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- Parking: The council cited a shortfall in parking provision.
- Dwelling mix: It considered the proposed mix of dwellings inadequate.
- Ground-floor activity: The plan lacked active uses such as shops, offices or restaurants at street level.
- Heritage paperwork: The council said a demolition application required for heritage sites was missing.
- Design: Officers considered the design inconsistent with the area’s context and character.
- Open and communal space: Mayor Mark Irwin also raised concerns about provision for open space and shared areas.
How did the mayor answer Gorman?
Mayor Mark Irwin rejected Gorman’s characterization of the decision. As reported by PerthNow, Irwin called the proposal “set up to fail” and said the council supported social housing proposals it considered well planned. That was the mayor’s view of this application, rather than a neutral determination of its merits.
The disagreement turns on what the rejection represents. Gorman emphasized a needed source of social and affordable housing being blocked; Irwin emphasized deficiencies the council said it saw in this particular plan. The available reporting does not establish which characterization better reflects the application’s planning merits.
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What later council minutes do—and do not—show
City of Stirling minutes dated May 13, 2025, record a later discussion of community concerns about a separate, existing 24-unit social housing complex on Ninth Avenue in Inglewood. The minutes describe the council’s stated preference for proposals with support services where needed, active ground floors and varied household tenancies. That later discussion is not the Beaufort Street proposal and should not be treated as the original basis for its rejection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unclear
The available sources do not include the Beaufort Street development application or formal decision record, so they do not allow an independent assessment of the council’s planning objections or the project’s reported $22 million value. They also do not establish what happened to the proposal after the reported rejection.
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