Extracts from Eastern Reporter
1)
EAST Metropolitan MLC Alison Xamon has vowed to fight a State government decision to develop 14.6ha of virgin bushland in Kiara.
The Greens politician said she was investigating the possibility of moving a disallowance motion in order to bring the debate in to parliament.
Ms Xamon said Planning Minister John Day’s decision was confusing, given the community’s 14-year long opposition to bulldozing the bushland.
“The community has been very clear and very consistent over the entire period over what they want done with that site. There’s no justification for ignoring this consistent message,” she said.
“Ongoing clearing, throughout the metropolitan, area means the relative importance of each patch of urban bushland is increasing. Preservation of these treasured spaces is essential if we are to avoid a sea of roofs.”
Mr Day reached his decision to approve the rezoning of the site in consultation with the City of Swan.
City of Swan councillor Mick Wainwright said that although he understood the concerns of local residents, he thought the area was “crying out” for areas of urban expansion.
“Look, I think it’s a good idea for it to go ahead, especially if we can include an area for senior citizens and a FESA facility. They are two pretty good reasons,” he said.
Bassendean MLA Martin Whitely said Perth’s urban expansion required areas of bushland be developed.
“It would be hypocritical of me to say I oppose development on the site,” he said.
“I support the retention of the most significant bits of bushland, but the reality is Perth is growing at an enormous rate and unless we want to see continuous urban sprawl, we need to develop on the existing footprint.”
Western Australian Planning Commission figures show there are 40,000 vacant, titled blocks in the greater metropolitan area.
2)
DESPITE 14 years of community opposition, Planning Minister John Day has approved the rezoning of fourteen hectares of bush in Kiara for urban development.
The bushland on the corner of Morley and Bottlebrush drives is home to Carnaby black cockatoos, rainbow bee-eaters, kangaroos and 150 species of flora.
Mr Day approved a Metropolitan Region Scheme amendment on April 9 that will allow the site to be cleared and developed.
He said possible uses for the site included a school, a childcare centre, a Fire and Emergency Services facility, public open space and residential developments.
In 1996 and 1998 two similar amendments were rejected after Kiara residents made clear their desire to retain the site as bushland.
Mr Day approved the amendment after the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and an Independent Hearings Committee carried out investigations for the landowner, the Department of Housing.
The EPA said the site had “significant values as a local bushland area and for its wetland and upland biodiversity values.”
The Hearings Committee said the bushland was regionally significant and recommended the site not be zoned for urban development, but rather be considered for Bush Forever classification.
Mr Day said the development would include up to 100 residential dwellings, with the first release occurring around October next year.
Read the full story in Tuesday's Eastern Reporter
3) Extract By Karen Valenti - editor of the Eastern Suburbs Reporter and Stirling Times
The leaders of today will one day be held up to ridicule for destroying trees when they should have remembered their Year 7 science class about how trees keep our air clean.
During the past 10 years, politicians have talked about protecting the environment and hammered home to all the environmental benefits of rainwater tanks, solar hot water systems, water-conserving showerheads and using public transport.
These measures will count for little without bushland and tree preservation.
Urban infill is an important tool to limit metropolitan sprawl in Perth and to ensure everyone has access to transport, schools and facilities.
However, within metres of Kiara bushland is an under-used shopping centre with a vast car park. There is already electricity at that Eden Hill site.
That would be a prime site for another housing development and a far better option than the Kiara bushland and its precious trees.
My thoughts - It makes no sense to put a Christian Prim School beside a catholic Prim School, there's already heaps of congestion in the area at peak school time. There's heaps of public Prim schools in the area with low enrollments.
Ashfield is having there zoning increased heaps, Parts of Bassendean and Eden hill have already had there zoning increased. There's heaps of cheap, vacant blocks in those area's already not selling, and they're talking about doing the same thing in Kiara.
The dumbest thing though is it's beautiful bushland in good condition that they want to clear - it's better than Kings Park. Then the councils spend heaps planting trees on other sites that have previously been cleared.