THE City of Melville will host back-to-back special electors’ meetings on Monday evening to discuss the community and environmental impacts of the proposed Alfred Cove wave park and procedures to prevent non-electors from voting at future meetings.
The wave park has faced vocal opposition from several corners, including the Swan Estuary Reserves Action Group (SERAG), nearby residents and Melville Bowling Club members.
At a special meeting of council in late November, then SERAG chairwoman Catherine O’Neill said the site of the proposed wave park was next to an area of international environmental significance.
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READ NOWMs O’Neill said approving the wave park would likely result in long-term damage to the Alfred Cove A-Class Nature Reserve, which houses a variety of local and migratory birds, including some from as far away as Siberia.
Some Melville Bowling Club members are opposed to the wave park because it will be on land currently occupied by the club, while other residents are concerned about a loss of public open space and increased traffic in the area.
The second special electors meeting will discuss procedures the City of Melville can put in place at future meetings to ensure people who are not electors do not vote.
It comes after allegations of “branch stacking” at a previous special electors’ meeting held to discuss the relocation of the Melville Bowling Club to Tompkins Park.
Former Federal MP George Gear, who was acting as spokesperson for the anti-relocation campaign, made the accusation after those in attendance voted against allowing an extension to his presentation time.
Many of those in attendance were wearing “Urbnsurf” T-shirts in support of the wave park, prompting some members of the gallery to question whether they were in fact City of Melville electors.
The City of Melville subsequently confirmed 110 people signed the attendance register with their full names and Melville addresses – making them eligible to vote – with a motion supporting the relocation of the Melville Bowling Club eventually carried 63-43.
Both meetings will be at the Melville Civic Centre, with the wave park discussion starting at 6.30pm and voting procedures at 8.30pm.