AAP
James Packer's $570 million six-star hotel plan for Perth is a step closer to becoming the subject of a Supreme Court challenge by local residents.
A Supreme Court ruling has told 23 Burswood residents, who live just metres from where the billionaire wants to expand his Crown casino complex, that they may have a case against the West Australian government's sale of the land where it will be built.
The state government has been ordered to hand over sensitive documents to the residents, so they can decide whether they could win if they took their grievances to court.
Earlier this year, residents of the Burswood Peninsula went public with their anger after the state government revealed it was selling 5.8ha of land to Mr Packer - and also putting aside more land to build Perth's new football stadium.
They said the developments would ruin their panoramic views of the nearby golf course, Crown Perth, the Swan River and the city.
Premier Colin Barnett said the WA government intended to use the state's 1985 Casino Agreement Act to sell the land to Crown Ltd for $60 million, while exempting the company from having to lodge plans with the local council or the state's planning commission.
But after getting little satisfaction from meetings with the state government, the residents argued in court they should be given access to the terms of the agreement so they could decide whether to fight it.
On Thursday, Master Craig Sanderson ruled the residents should get access to relevant documents "in the interests of justice and the interests of the parties".
Master Sanderson also said their case did have a chance of success.
"Certainly this is not a case where the plaintiffs' position is hopeless and no encouragement to a pointless action should be given," he said.