RESIDENTS have the chance to join a group to help guide the future of Edgewater Quarry.
The Edgewater Quarry site is about 17.7ha in a “strategic location” that “has the potential to offer multiple benefits to the both the City and its community”, according to a Joondalup council document.
A location within the site next to Joondalup Drive has been identified has having development potential with the remaining land to be public open space and conservation.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWLast August, the council requested a report on the establishment of an Edgewater Quarry Community Reference Group that could help with the development of a concept design for the site and to seek feedback from the wider community on relevant issues.
The group would include the mayor and ward councillors as well as 20 community members to be made up of six ratepayers or residents from Edgewater, five from other City suburbs and nine representatives from community or special interest groups.
It is proposed meetings will be held every two months and be outside of standard business hours, with the group running until the end of October 2019.
Edgewater Community Residents Association secretary Beth Hewitt said for more than 20 years she had “heard repeatedly” that the quarry was going to be developed.
“There have been lots of rumours over the last 20 years: eight-storey apartments, roads that cut through to Eddystone Avenue, even churches to be built,” she said at the December council briefing.
“I know the community is very protective of this space.
“It provides some of the last remaining habitat for endangered bird species such as the Carnaby’s cockatoos.”
She said ECRA welcomed the formation of the Edgewater Quarry reference group and “would like to be actively involved”.
“We are happy to act as a conduit for information and opinion so the final decisions are under understood by the community… and meet expectations and wishes of the community,” she said.
“The Edgewater Quarry is a prime opportunity to create something special; a destination where nature and recreation combine to create a place for families from all over Perth as well as local residents to enjoy – perhaps even the Kings Park of the north.”
Mayor Albert Jacob said the quarry site had been earmarked for intensive development as far back as the 1970s, with previous ideas including botanic gardens, picnic areas, walking trails and an adventure playground.
The City is calling for expressions of interest to join the community reference group until March 23.
Applications can be made at www.joondalup.wa.gov.au.
City officers will assess the nominations and provide recommendations on the group’s proposed membership in a future report to the council.
MORE: Perth teacher allegedly raped student in mid-to-late 1990s
MORE: City of Perth votes in third CEO in a week
MORE: Full list: cars affected in mass recall of deadly airbags