Another tavern for Kwinana and a revamp of dining options at the suburb’s central shopping location is on the cusp of being ticked off for development. The new tavern headlines a long desired but now controversial quest to improve offerings at Kwinana Marketplace, which is recommended for approval by State planners due to meet on Wednesday afternoon. A licensed restaurant, dining venues, shops, children’s playground and an amusement centre could also all open in space created by the expansion, which spills into 19 existing car bays, and remodelling the inside food court. Locals say any facelift is well overdue but many questioned — or have outright railed against — the need for a new watering hole, especially so close to Kwinana Local in area designated purely for retail. Most who spoke up during a recent consultation period said a new pub in the area would only increase existing antisocial issues, while other eateries along the Chisham Avenue “Main Street” say creating a new food and entertainment precinct will be detrimental. The Local also weighed in, claiming new competition would not only affect their business but their sponsorship and support of the area’s sporting teams and community groups. “There is no evidence in the proposal that it will not have an adverse effect on existing businesses or provide better amenity for the community than that which already exists,” Kwinana Local director Paul Tropiano wrote in a submission. Camera Icon An artist impression of the proposed alfresco precinct at Kwinana Marketplace. Credit: Supplied / Lateral Planning He strongly objected to another tavern licence being granted in the Kwinana town centre, given a further three already operate within 5km of his venue. “The four taverns together provide the local community with sufficient choices, but another tavern would be the tipping point for the viability of these businesses,” Mr Tropiano said. “If we lost business to another tavern, we would not be able to continue with the same level of community support that we presently provide, which would be a great loss to the community.” If approved, the redevelopment would increase the size of Kwinana Marketplace by 406sqm and bring outdoor seating to the western edge, including a beer garden for the tavern. The new dining and drinking precinct would be about 150m from Callistemon Court Aged Care Facility, just across Gilmore Avenue. Applicant Lateral Planning spruiked that the council’s Kwinana City Centre Master Plan encourages street activation, and in its report the City of Kwinana agreed the application was “generally consistent with the vision, objectives, concept and design guidance of the Master Plan”.