Perth Hills residents claim win as embattled Satterley development rejected
Perth Hills residents have won a long-standing battle to stop a controversial Satterley Property Group housing development they deemed "dangerous and destructive" because it put 4000 people in the middle of an extreme bushfire zone.
The Save Perth Hills residents group learned late on Tuesday the Western Australian Planning Commission had refused the developer's North Stoneville plan to transform bushland into a 1400-house development between Toodyay Road and Great Eastern Highway.
The land is owned by the Anglican Church, which hired property developer Nigel Satterly to create a new townsite to accommodate about 4000 residents, and included two schools and a local centre.
Save Perth Hills chair Paige McNeil said the plan was “dangerous and destructive”.
"Dangerous to the lives of the community because of bushfire [risk] and the lack of road infrastructure for evacuation, and destructive of the environment because this plan required the bulldozing of 200 hectares of native forrest," she said.
The plan would put 4000 people in the middle of an 'extreme' fire zone, with no public transport and very limited infrastructure.
"It's a private development and the only benefit I see ... is the return on investment to the landowner and the developer," Ms McNeil said.
Deputations ran 2 ½ hours overtime because of the rigour of the committee’s questions and the desire to understand the “real issues of why this community has opposed structure plan 34 for 19 months plus the urbanisation of the site for over 26 years,” Ms McNeil said.
According to the WAPC, the decision concludes 10 months of rigorous assessment including extensive environmental and land use planning investigation, and engagement with the applicant, the shire, relevant government authorities and community stakeholders.
“Refusal of the application was on the basis that the applicant did not convince the committee that the proposal meets the intent and objectives of State Planning Policy 3.7 Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas,” a WAPC statement read.
“During the meeting, the committee received deputations from 13 parties, including the developer Satterley Property Group, the Shire of Mundaring and local community groups.”
It's a win for Save Perth Hills group as the WAPC committee refuses a property development. Credit:Save Perth Hills
The Satterly Property Group's North Stoneville website said the bushfire risk of the area was well known, well understood and much better managed since the Parkerville fires of 2008 and 2014.
"The Bushfire Management Plan submitted with the LSP has been prepared in consultation with the Shire and Department of Fire and Emergency Services and includes all the measures necessary to prevent or mitigate bushfire risk – multiple points for emergency access, perimeter roads separating bushfire hazards from all homes, protection of homes on larger lots through hazard protection zones, reduced fuel loads through removal of degraded vegetation, provision of dam and scheme water for firefighting and management of the conservation area and open space to reduce fire risk," the website read.
As with all planning applications, the developer has a right of appeal through the State Administrative Tribunal or can submit an alternate application for assessment which addresses the issues raised during determination of this application.
Satterley Property Group has been contacted for comment.