Bush clearing splits council

Shire of Augusta-Margaret River councillors have split over a proposed subdivision on land off Kevill Road which will require extensive bush clearing. At last week’s live-streamed council meeting, the recommendation by planning staff not to allow the development was overturned by a majority of four. The WA Planning Commission will now decide whether to authorise the subdivision after supportive members said there was a “moral” issue to consider. Crs Paula Cristoffanini, Naomi Godden and Julia Meldrum said the Shire directive not to support the subdivision should be followed due to the conservation values of the property and the potential effect on wildlife such as possums. “I can’t support re-subdivision on a completely vegetated block,” Cr Cristoffanini said. Cr Godden said wildlife corridors and habitat needed greater protection. “We have a focus on climate change, and retaining trees — old trees in particular — is one of the best things we can do to combat emissions,” she said. “This is not a degraded bush site ... it must be retained.” Cr Meldum said supporting the officer’s recommendation was about following the Shire’s strategic goal of “environment first”. But after the first vote was lost, Crs Kylie Kennaugh and Brian Daniel floated an alternative to give the proposal Shire support when subdivision approval was considered by the WAPC. Supporting councillors said aerial images of the block showed the surrounding properties had undergone similar subdivision in past years. Crs Daniel and Pauline McLeod said the council had a moral obligation not to disadvantage the owner. “We do have plenty of other places like the national parks we can enjoy around the shire,” Cr Daniel said. “I really do have a moral issue on these sorts of things and I am a conservationist myself.” The property owner bought the land more than 35 years ago and always planned to develop it in line with neighbouring blocks, Cr Daniel said. “At the last minute, we are (talking about) declining this application, which is not good,” he said. The meeting was told the owner sought to build two houses for his daughters, but planning laws required subdivision. Shire president Ian Earl also backed the alternative because the owners were “carrying the can” for past successful subdivision applicants. “It’s a timing issue,” Cr Earl said. “If it had been a few years ago, they would have got it easily.” Cr Kennaugh said the application was designed to build affordable homes and the Shire refusal was “discriminating” against the applicants compared to their neighbours. The Shire report said “no rare or endangered flora were observed on the site”. “A flora and fauna assessment ... finds that vegetation on site is in excellent condition and that there are a large number of significant trees both with and without hollows that provide nesting opportunities for the endangered black cockatoo,” the planning report said. “Whilst no cockatoos or endangered western ringtail possums were observed on the site, the significant trees are recommended for retention.” An amendment would require the owner to develop a wildlife impact mitigation plan.