Witchcliffe Forest Estate protest sees big crowd gather for direct plea to owners over planned tree-felling

Protesters say they will appeal directly to the owners of a contentious new subdivision in Witchcliffe to halt plans to cut down scores of old-growth trees.

The move comes as the head of the region’s peak conservation body also spoke out on the issue.

Nature Conservation Margaret River Region general manager Drew Mckenzie said loss of habitat was an increasing issue among the region’s housing growth.

“It is disappointing to see more native vegetation being earmarked for clearing through the development process especially whilst many in our community are doing what they can to support biodiversity either on their own properties or by volunteering for the revegetation and regeneration of our local reserves and bushland,” he told the Times.

“We are in the middle of a biodiversity crisis and remnant vegetation represents vital wildlife habitat and carbon stores and also provides important character, shade and aesthetic values to our landscape.

“The community values our biodiversity highly and has strong expectations around how it should be protected and managed.”

More than 80 residents met at Witchcliffe’s Druids Hall on Sunday to film a video plea to the developers of Witchcliffe Forest Estate.

Co-organiser Anu Grace told the Times it was a “hugely positive gathering”.

“Our aim was to produce a welcoming film to the owners introducing the town of Witchliffe, its people and its natural inhabitants, appealing to work together with our community to save these trees,” she said.

“Our vision is to save the back five to six forested blocks, precluding the need for most of the access road.”

She said Witchcliffe residents were increasingly concerned about the scale of residential development on all sides of the settlement and native wildlife, including black cockatoos, western ringtail possums and white-bellied frogs, all faced loss of habitat.

“Our best outcome would be a mutual legacy from the owners combined with community contribution to buy this land back, for which there was already huge support and pledging,” she said.

“This felt like a very possible outcome, drawing all the residents new and old of Witchcliffe together in a shared purpose and the most obvious climate-change action we can all do.”

A spokesperson for the developer said the owners were overseas and unable to comment.

Last week, the Times reported project manager Tony Anderson from Arbitrage Projects said 98 trees would go in total, with care taken to minimise losses.

“The proponents of this project have made a very strong commitment to the retention of trees and where possible the road and infrastructure design, drainage etc., will accommodate, where it can, existing trees,” he said.

“It is worth noting that the forest area is currently not a conservation zone but private land.

“It will only become a defined conservation reserve and therefore protect the area for future generations as a result of the development proceeding.”