Clearing permit delay causes concerns for school ovals

DELAYS getting a clearing permit could mean playing fields will not be ready when a high school opens in Perth’s north next February.

The City of Wanneroo is still waiting for a permit to clear bushland in Alkimos and Butler so it can build the $20.7 million Halesworth Park, which will have community facilities shared with the adjacent Alkimos College, due to welcome its first students in 2020.

Concerns about delays arose at the October 15 council meeting while councillors considered a report on federal election funding commitments, including $5 million for the Halesworth facility.

After the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation granted a clearing permit on June 5, it received four appeals against it, which the appeals convenor is investigating on behalf of the environment minister.

Appeals convenor Emma Gaunt said while there were no statutory timeframes for investigations, the matter was a priority for her office.

“The appellants have raised a number of detailed concerns on complex matters, in particular in relation to impacts to Carnaby’s black cockatoo and the banksia woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plan threatened ecological community,” she said.

“Once the appeal investigation is complete, the appeals convenor provides a report with recommendations to the minister – it is the minister who decides the appeals.”

Education Department infrastructure executive director John Fischer said planning for Alkimos College located it beside the future park to allow shared use of the ovals.

“We have been working with the Alkimos College and John Butler Primary College principals, as well as builders and architects, to determine the best arrangement for students,” he said.

“Plans are now in place to build a path, ramp and gate at the back of the oval at John Butler Primary College so Alkimos College students can have access to the oval until sports facilities that are being constructed on Halesworth Park are completed.”

Wanneroo councillors unanimously accepted the federal funding, subject to the chief executive negotiating deed agreements with federal agencies.

The other commitments included $5 million for a $65 million swimming pool in the North Coast Ward, $850,000 for CCTV, and $400,000 for an $820,000 upgrade of the Wanneroo City Soccer clubrooms at Kingsway Regional Sporting Complex in Madeley.

The Federal Government is also providing $300,000 for the $713,000 Kingsway water playground, due to open in late October, and $190,000 to upgrade lights at Ridgewood Park.

Asked whether a location had been chosen for the north coast pool yet, community and place director Debbie Terelinck said staff would present the feasibility study at a council forum in late November, with the intent to bring it to a council meeting early next year.

The City had also advocated for another $36.5 million for other sporting facilities, which did not receive funding commitments.