Opinion: Proposed clearing of Scarborough dunes irks readers

I WAS interested to read the news item about Dr Semeniuk’s views on the wholesale clearing of the public land west of The Beach Shack’s development site (“Ecologist backs dune clearing”, Stirling Times, February 12).

Then I saw Norup + Wilson’s slogan, prominent in its paid advert, “Where Anything is Possible” – indeed it seems that is the case with this developer.

First it garners maximum height allowance from the MRA, then it proposes a design that uses maximum of the land so that within the boundary there is no longer room for the mandated 3m fire and emergency access.

Is there a hidden agenda? Why does Norup+Wilson require such a large clearing and not just a 3m firebreak?

Perhaps it is because the developer’s agent is still telling people the development on the western side of this development will have rear access to overcome the nightmare when leaving the site on to West Coast Highway.

I think the motives must be looked at more closely, otherwise before we know it there will be a road on the west side of this development down to the Esplanade

MARGARET HERRING,

Scarborough

I FIND the prospect of Norup + Wilson getting this proposed reshaping of public land disturbing and outrageous (“Ecologist backs dune clearing”, Stirling Times) due to the fact that it’s public land. In other words, it belongs to the people of Perth, but a private developer thinks they have a right to impose, alter and reshape this land, which significantly increases the value of their adjacent development.

By getting this public land given to them, thus allowing for a de facto extension of their land, the Government would be handing public land worth millions to a developer.

TOM WEBSTER,

Trigg

PROPERTY developer Norup + Wilson’s claim to be a “good corporate citizen” (“Ecologist backs dune clearing”, Stirling Times) warrants closer examination and a fact check.

The land west of its property at north Scarborough Beach belongs to the State of WA and its citizens.

It is an integral and important part of the sand dune system between Scarborough and Trigg Beach and is within Bush Forever Area 308. Importantly, it does not belong to Norup + Wilson to clear, level and revegetate as a firebreak |or access road.

This protection for the dunes was thanks to Beach Not Bitumen and a coalition of community groups that campaigned to stop a road and parking being constructed through the sand dunes between Norup + Wilson’s land and the foreshore.

The “deal” was steered through over the December/January holiday period, hoping we would not notice. Well, we have noticed and we will not rest until this remnant coastal dune area is permanently protected as was the intention when, in May 2017, the newly-elected Minister for Planning scrapped the proposed road and promised to protect the Bush Forever sand dunes forever.

ROBYN MURPHY,

Friends of Trigg Beach

Editor’s note: City of Stirling parks and sustainability manager Ian Hunter said as Norup + Wilson’s development plans submitted to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority did not contain a firebreak on their property, the developer was required to comply with State Planning Policy 3.7 for bushfire prone areas because the development site backs on to large natural area (Trigg Bushland dune system).

“This was a condition imposed by the MRA in granting approval for the ‘Beach Shack’ development,” he said.