Preserve Gnarabup protest group say resort should be judged as is

Preserve Gnarabup says its own professional consultant has found major problems with the bushfire-management plan developed for the proposed Westin Margaret River Resort & Spa and its accompanying village. The group engaged Bushfire Prone Planning to evaluate the developer’s plan to meet tough State Government bushfire-management requirements. In a letter, BPP director Mike Scott said there were errors in the developer’s plan, and it relied on building an as-yet unfunded second road and clearing Crown land to meet firebreak requirements. “Without a robust bushfire-risk management plan, the bushfire emergency evacuation plan, in my opinion, cannot be supported as it is not clear if the applied risk-assessment process has accounted for the potential for loss of life, injury, or destroyed or damaged assets which results in personal loss and economic loss, and there is no commitment by the State or Local Government to a second road out of Gnarabup,” Mr Scott said. Preserve Gnarabup said the group feared the resort plan would increase bushfire risk for existing and future residents. “A second road out of Gnarabup was investigated by Main Roads and the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River following the 2011 bushfire that burnt many homes and trapped local people within the township,” spokeswoman Beth Carlessi said. “This proposal has not progressed, with a key reason being the view that a second road would give a false sense of security to those at Gnarabup and Prevelly. “If a second access road cannot be effective, the population of Gnarabup and Prevelly should not be increased.” Proponent Joel Saraceni said he supported a second access road. “It makes the entire community safer,” he said. “However, it is already a current community need and not one being created by our development.” The resort’s shelter on site plan was “best practice bushfire management” and would improve the safety of the whole community regardless of any second road.