Areas in east Wanneroo identified in the plan as having specific and broad commitment values.
Camera IconAreas in east Wanneroo identified in the plan as having specific and broad commitment values. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Wanneroo Growth Plan Forum: Politicians respond

Laura PondWanneroo Times

LOCAL and State Government representatives have clashed over the delivery of the Perth and Peel Green Growth Plan for 3.5 million.

A community forum was held in Wanneroo last week, attended by about 100 residents concerned about how the State Government document would affect their properties.

City of Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts said the City requested the Department of Premier and Cabinet co-ordinate the event.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“(The) forum was not concise and failed to provide any clarity,” she said.

“Clearly, there needs to be appropriate detailed mapping showing land affected by the Green Growth Plan and additional consultation with all affected landowners.

“Cost implications, including acquisition and ongoing management, need to be explained.”

But Wanneroo MLA Paul Miles said the City was responsible for the venue and equipment, which were criticised on the night, and believed the forum was beneficial.

“I definitely got something out of it,” he said.

Mr Miles said most residents wanted to know whether the plan would impact on the proposed Metropolitan Region Scheme amendment for east Wanneroo.

“I understand what the issue is, that people are thinking one interacts with the other but it doesn’t directly,” he said.

“It doesn’t change (the amendment) in any way.”

He believed the fact the plan and amendment were both available for public comment had created confusion but the timing was coincidental.

“I was hoping to get the east Wanneroo amendment released prior to Christmas,” he said.

Labor’s Wanneroo candidate Sabine Winton said from an environmental perspective the plan was “dreadfully misleading”.

“It’s not a green growth plan; all the environmental authorities say there is going to be a net loss to green areas in Perth,” she said.

She was also concerned about the Government’s lack of consultation with landowners.

“I wonder how many residents are out there that don’t know about it,” she said.

Mrs Roberts demanded further Government consultation.

“This is a State government strategy and it is imperative that they involve our local landowners in the process to ensure the impact of the plan is fully understood,” she said.

Mr Miles agreed there should be correspondence with landowners and said he would be holding four to five smaller meetings to allow their specific questions to be answered.

“I will help them as much as they want me to,” he said.

“At the end of the day, if the submissions period needs to be extended a month or two then that’s fine.”

More: Mixed feelings at Wanneroo meeting over Perth and Peel Growth Plan forum.