Green belt removed

The green factor, along with the chance to live closer to their daughter, is what convinced new residents Robert and Maya Mutch to build on Alverda Parade.

When they put their deposit down in September, 2013, they paid a premium for a block overlooking a stand of 20m-tall gum trees that grew directly opposite where they would build their final dream home.

The old trees formed a natural belt of tall greenery separating Alverda Parade from another subdivision about 30m away and contained a natural tributary to the Ellen Brook.

They moved into their new home three weeks ago, but the view now is markedly different from what they expected.

The trees have now been removed and the waterway has become stagnant and littered with rubbish from nearby building sites.

The new subdivision being built opposite was also raised significantly higher than the pre-existing paddock, further interrupting their view.

"There's no trees or anything there now. If they had left the green belt of trees that would have been fine," Mr Mutch said.

"I would like to see them do something with the banks of the waterway and develop that area sooner rather than later to get it flowing and back to health again."

Stockland senior development manager Stuart Sinclair said Stockland had followed the masterplan it used to market its subdivisions.

Mr Sinclair said the landscape would be returned to a better state than what it was in when Stockland acquired the land.

The Mutch family said Stockland's vision for the Vale community "to seamlessly integrate with its natural surroundings" seemed at odds with the developer's current environmental procedures.

Mr Sinclair said the area immediately next to Alverda Parade had always been designated as public open space and it would remain so as part of the approved master plan.

He said after the work was finished the public open space would be tidied up and landscaped, including rehabilitation of the creek and native vegetation.