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Mundaring Shire Council votes to limit information
At the May Council meeting the Shire Council voted to limit information given to it's own councillors. The matter was brought forth by the CEO. The final decision on who sees what information now rests with the CEO. If there is a disagreement, the Shire president will decide. If there is further disagreement, a majority vote in a closed door session of the Council will decide.

Would this compromise the freedom for all members of the council to see documents, minutes, plans, etc.? Does this change the fundamental system of government away from a democracy? Does this violate State Freedom of Information laws? This motion was proposed and passed without legal advice.

The document, "Access By Council And Committee Members to Information", was copied from one the City of Joondalup drafted and adopted. The full document is available on the Shire website under "Council minutes and agendas, ordinary council meeting May 26, 2009."

SPH at Sunfair '09
Save Perth Hills had an information booth at the Sun Fair at UWA April 5th.
We spoke with hundreds of people interested in preserving the Hills as a water catchment for the city, a source of fresh air, and as habitat for endangered flora and fauna. For City people, the recreational activities and lifestyle possibilities of the Hills are essential.

Awareness of Hills issues was raised such as over-development, quarrying, logging and environmental abuses by Western Power and Water Corp. To the People of Perth, the Hills are as important as the River, the Beaches and Rotto. We expanded our data base and sold hundreds of car stickers, which help to finance this website.

"ECHO" editorial cartoon, Dec 14, 2008.
It's nice to be in good company



Protest to Western Power's Eastern Terminal
Western Power are pressuring to build a major switching station on the Kalamunda-Mundaring border. It would necessitate clearing 20 ha. of forest, building 180 pylons along a 100 km swath from Boddington, perpetuate coal-generated electricity, and make power available power for Alcoa to start aluminium mining near the Weir. Read more

Western Power repackages Eastern Terminal Project
After a dismal public reception for it’s plan to build a large substation in state forest on the Kalamunda/Mundaring border, Western Power has renamed the project “Powering Perth’s Communities” and is going for further public consultation. Read more

WAPC Replies to Save Perth Hill's Submission
The WAPC responded to our submission regarding the Shire of Mundaring council's vote to Request the Lifting of Urban Deferment on the Parkerville and Stoneville developments. They agreed with our citing previous constraints the Council ignored, and offered to take a look at changing the 2700 small blocks to fewer, 2 ha. lots. This is not over by a long shot, but it shows they are paying attention. Read the letter

The Other Side: A Pro Development Argument
The following letter appeared in the October 18 Hills Gazette. It was written by Peter Carter, who neglected to add that he was a Mundaring Shire Councillor when the developments were first proposed. Mr. Carter criticizes the alternative to the land in question being "broken into 2 ha "farmlets". Instead he apparently proposes they be broken into 800 sq. metre suburban blocks, 2700 of them . A 2700 home suburb 10 kms out in the bush is not a "small development". The cost of providing infrastructure will far outweigh the benefits, and that's not taking into account the social and environmental questions. We aren't against all development, but it should be appropriate and sustainable. We don't pretend to represent all the residents in the Hills, just most of them. Read the letter

Director General of DPI says constraints against high density townsites stand
Director General of Dept of Planning and Infrastructure, Eric Lumsden cites the very constraints that were being ignored by the Mundaring Shire Council will be given "close scrutiny" before any high density townsites will be approved.
Read letter

Hills Protection Bill being Drafted

The bill is being re-drafted based on feedback from our community workshops. The Bill would require the creation of a State Planning Policy which will specify types of areas such as: agricultural, rural, suburban, commercial, industrial, natural preserve, water catchment (rural water protection), private recreational, etc. It would set guidelines as to what could be done within the areas. Read more

The Subprime Mortgage Meltdown hits the EMRC for an $4.1 million loss. View the following PowerPoint cartoon. View Powerpoint (2Mb).

Parkerville Development Block Layout
Building has begun on houses only 50m from John Forrest NP boundary.
The 900+ block layout as approved by Mundaring Shire and sent to WAPC 2008.

Erosion at Parkerville Development
Erosion is becoming evident
Erosion is becoming evident as the first houses are being built in the outer ring (2 ha. blocks) at Parkerville Highlands development. If the Shire and WAPC lift the deferment, 900 more homes will be built on much smaller blocks (down to 300 sq. metres). On smaller blocks all trees can be cleared. The development is directly above John Forrest National Park. The proposed Stoneville development (1700 homes) is in a similar situation directly upstream from Parkerville Highlands. All stormwater runoff, along with pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, will flow through the National Park into Jane Brook and eventually the Swan River.s

Perth Hills Planning Bill Update
At the request of Perth hills residents, Giz Watson (MLC North Metro)
, has developed a draft Perth Hills Planning Bill to better protect and plan for the future of the Perth Hills. Read more

Hundreds More Big Trucks on Toodyay Road
Hanson Quarries, currently under investigation for mining outside their permitted area in Red Hill, is applying to expand that Red Hill operation to extract and ship 1.5 million tonnes of gravel per year. This will involve doubling the visible scar on the Darling Range Escarpment which will be visible across the coastal plain. Other concerns are frequent blasting, disruption of the delicate ecosystem and draining of the Susannah Brook water catchment by mining below the water table. Hanson has consistently deceived the community and government over it’s operations. ... Read more
Submissions of objection must be made prior to the close of business on the 18th August 2008... Email submissions to: submissions.eia@dec.wa.gov.au  ... Click to read more

Sewage Plant Expansion Could Start Massive Development
Water Corp wants to expand the Mundaring sewage plant by 2012.
The plant has been irrigating the local oval and 2 primary school grounds with excess treated water in summer, and "temporarily" dumping into Jarrah Creek each winter for 11 years. Now they want to double the plant's capacity. They are floating 4 plans to deal with the excess water. Read more
Water Corp wants to expand the Mundaring sewage plant... Click to read more

Kalamunda Community Group Supports Hills Planning Bill
Read more

Recent News....

Mundaring Council Votes to Request WAPC Lift Urban Deferment. Read more

Mundaring Council Votes to sell Red Hill Tip land for possible Sewage Plant.
Read more


Save Perth Hills Videos on YouTube
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Download Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader here FREE. To view many of the documents on this site you will need a PDF reader, such as
Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader [download it here].

CLICK TO WATCH the SPH Video on YouTube!

Illegal trailbikes on You Tube!
...as seen on "Today Tonight, Channel 7"

Click on image to view video!

Do you know these guys?
Click for full-sized image.
Click for full-sized image.
They were riding illegally and terrorising walkers on the Railway Reserve in Hovea, Parkerville and John Forrest Nat'l Park around 3 pm Sat., 20 Sept. If you recognise them,
send an anonymous e-mail to info@saveperthhills.org and we'll send it and their photos on to the Ranger.

Where are the parents?
Click for full size
"Not all trailbike hoons are blokes. These young ladies were caught riding on the Heritage Trail in Parkerville on Wed, 28 January at 3 pm. Probably on their way to Sam Druckers for lollies. Do you know them?"

Hills Issues
Hills Issues umbrellas issues regarding developments in the regions across The Perth Hills and Darling Scarp. More will be added as they come to light. If you feel an issue or group should be included please contact us: info@saveperthhills.org

Click on a region

Perth Hills Zone Maps

Share Your Local Issues
We're looking for local corespondents from our readers in the Shires of Chittering, Mundaring, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Kalamunda, Armadale and the Cities of Swan and Gosnells. If you have a Hills-related issue you'd like to report on, please write it up and send it to info@saveperthhills.org.

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