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.
Click here to view this important letter from the DPI

Mundaring Council Votes to Request WAPC Lift Urban Deferment

In an 8-3 vote after a long debate, the Council voted at the 23 Sept meeting to send the "Request to Lift the Urban Deferment" on the Stoneville and Parkerville developments to the WA Planning Commission.

The Request is based on a secret 500 page report from Cardno Group, the Stoneville development's town planners. No one from the public is allowed to read the secret report which supposedly lays out several options for "sewage plant solutions". No details have been allowed to be made public.

Voting for Lifting Deferment: Cllrs. Lavelle, Jamieson, Johnson, Pilgrim, Hall, Cuccaro, Gardhouse, Dullard.

Voting against Lifting Deferment: Cllrs. Daw, Davies, Harvey.

An Alternate Motion by Cllr. Sharon Davis asking for up-to-date environmental, social-impact and infrastructure reports was voted down.

The Request now goes to the WA Planning Commission.
Public can make comments and submissions (include the Metropolitan Regional Scheme number MRS 1019/33) to:
Jeremy Dawkins, Chairman WAPC
PO Box J747 Perth 6001

Mundaring Council to make Final Vote on Urban Deferment

Council still has to vote on it's DAC committee Request, so it's not over yet. There is likely to be an alternative motion from one of the dissenting Councillors. Interested members of the public can query the Council during Question time at the beginning of the meeting. They can read the statements/questions they were unable to finish when they were cut off by the chair at the DAC meeting. read more

The basis of the Shire's Request does not fulfil the requirements of the original LSIP for the developments, as it doesn't show a clear workable sewage system, nor does it address the other constraints: infrastructure, environment, social and economic sustainability.

Shire Approves Lifting Urban Deferred Status to Developments

Based on a secret sewage plan, the Mundaring Council voted 7-3 to request the WA Planning Commission lift the deferred staus on the Stoneville and Parkerville developments. The vote at the 9 Sept DAC meeting to a standing-room-only gallery of 75 residents went contrary to popular opinion in the vocal crowd. read more

The chairwoman cut off councillors speaking against the measure after 5 minutes or if they strayed from her take on the issue, yet allowed those councillors speaking for it to ramble on. A dozen members of the community spoke against, none spoke for. One councillor in favour of the request said that people who were for the developments didn't come. A spokeswoman for the developer's town planner promised the sewage plant would turn out drinkable water. "I'd drink it," she said.

The sewage plan's options remain secret, yet the council voted to lift the deferred status based on them. While there is still a lengthy process before the developments can be built, it is another step in the "death of a thousand cuts" process that will end the Hills Lifestyle.

The 900+ block layout as approved by Mundaring Shire and sent to WAPC 2008.

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Shire to Vote on Stoneville and Parkerville Development Approval,
6:30pm Tuesday 9 Sept

Shire to Vote on Stoneville and Parkerville Development Approval, 6:30pm Tuesday 9 Sept.

Mundaring Shire has scheduled a vote to propose that the WA Planning Commission lift the Urban Deferment on the Stoneville and Parkerville developments. Their rationale: "...The main issue precluding the Urban zoning proceeding was the lack of viable wastewater treatment solutions for the townsites. As there are now a number of possible solutions there are no remaining constraints to the Urban zoning of the townsites." Shire DAC meeting Sepr. 08 agenda item # 8.5 read more

Read the relevant pages of the DAC Agenda here and also the quoted Attachment 5 or Read the full agenda item on page 26 the Shire's Web site: http://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/Council_Information/Council_Minutes_&_Agendas/Rate_Payers/WORD-PDF/2008/September/DAC%20AGENDA.pdf

This flies in the face of councillors statements to never let the devlopments go through without proper up to date studies. This zoning was approved 11 years ago, and the studies were minimal and are out of date. This vote gives away any say the Shire might have in further WAPC actions regarding the sites.

If these developments go through, it will turn the Hills into just another suburb. On 4 days notice over an election weekend, this single most important council vote for the Shire's future seems hasty at best.



Background on this issue available on this website

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