Perth Voice Interactive

THE WA planning commission has defended its “thorough process” which saw it approve clearing of privately-owned wetlands in Bayswater.

The WAPC gave the go ahead for the D’Orazio family application to subdivide and clear what it calls a “small section” of the neighbouring Lot 14 block.

But the environmental report the WAPC relied on only focused on the near-empty D’Orazio block, and did not consider the lush greenery that was going to be cleared on Lot 14 next door.

In response to Perth Voice email queries WAPC chair Eric Lumsden said “only a small section of lot 14 is part of the subdivision application”.

Locals who describe the clearing as affecting a large swath of greenery would dispute the “small section” descriptor, but Mr. Lumsden’s response goes on to say “the section along the north western boundary is included to accommodate proposed cul-de-sac heads and was included in the assessment. The relevant environmental agencies were consulted and no environmental objections were raised”.

But a study of the environmental report shows no reference to the greenery along the boundaries on Lot 14.

The photos, descriptions, and satellite maps all relate to the already empty D’Orazio block, and the report concludes that the site is “degraded” and “holds little to no habitat value” for significant species.

Bayswater councillor Chris Cornish’s freedom of information requests uncovered how little environmental consideration went into the decision.

In his blog he says it’s a “a great pity that the WAPC did not take note of this omission” in approving the subdivision without the environmental report covering lot 14, and note’s that it’s “indeed fortunate for the ABN Group” that’s developing the site.

He pointed out WAPC decisions are supposed to take into account “environmental features that may affect the proposal.”

by DAVID BELL

JUST metres from the clearing of a privately owned wetland which was approved by the WA planning commission, Bayswater council’s restoration work at the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary has been nominated for a premier’s award.

The bird sanctuary is separated from the proposed housing development spot by a small path, but underground pipes connect the water tables and locals fear housing in such close quarters will be bad for the sanctuary’s health.

Increased noise

In a letter to the WAPC, Bayswater council planner Helen Smith said having housing so close would impact birds nesting and migration, scaring them off with artificial light and increased noise, and it could also increase weed infestation from garden escapees and unleash dog and cat attacks on the fauna in the neighbouring paths. On behalf of council she requested that if housing did go ahead that they leave a large buffer zone. The WAPC rejected that saying the pathway was sufficient distance.

The council spent $3million including government grants to restore the reserve. In a press release about the award nomination deputy mayor Stephanie Coates says before the work “Eric Singleton Reserve was a degraded man-made wetland laden with nutrient rich acid sulphate soil that was causing thick filamentous algae blooms”, a threadlike pond scum-type algae that covers everything.

“Run off into the Swan River was contributing to a decline in water quality and algae blooms were literally choking marine life to death. Wildlife diversity within the reserve was at an all-time low.”

Working with the WA parks and wildlife department the city lined the base of the wetland with limestone to neutralise acidity and help remove nitrogen, along with a whole host of planting and landscaping.

“The wetlands now prevents an estimated 1.3 tonnes of nitrogen, 200kg of phosphorous and 40 tonnes of sediment and rubbish from flowing into the river each year,” Cr Coates says.

The city and DPAW has been nominated as a finalist in the “managing the environment” category of the premier’s awards and the winners are announced November 2.

by DAVID BELL

THE endangered carnaby’s cockatoo is amongst scores of birds made homeless with the stroke of a pen when the WA planning commission approved the clearing of a privately owned Bayswater wetlands.

More than 20 bird species, seven types of frogs, a dozen types of reptiles and multiple fish have been recorded at the small wetland.

The Voice has seen three independent expert reports on the environmental value of the land, which was not considered in the WAPC’s approval allowing the D’Orazio family to subdivide its property which encroaches on the Carter Wetland.

A 2009 Birds Australia report recorded 23 different bird species, including a nesting swamp hen, and a mystery bird, “a small unidentified passerine…with a black cap and chunky appearance” that none of the four observers could identify.

Restricted

A report in August this year by Consulting Ecologists’ Mike and Mandy Bamford found vibrant frog life, including three not seen at the site previously, and a quacking frog “restricted to a few wetlands on the coastal plain”.

The frog population on the Carter wetland is actually more diverse than the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, the report says.

While some will be fine if they hop over to the bird sanctuary, “two other frog species, the banjo frog and the moaning frog, may rely entirely upon the Carter’s block swamp because their breeding biology relies on predictable seasonal water level changes”, the report says.

Remnant vegetation

Consultant botanist Malcolm Trudgen recently wrote to Environment House (the group campaigning to save the wetlands) saying: “Areas of remnant vegetation such as this tend to be written off as small and degraded and therefore not worth preserving.

“This is an error of assessment as all areas of remnant vegetation should be assessed both for intrinsic worth and as part of the wider environment.”

Remnant vegetation has local significance, which in this case had not been fully documented, Mr Trudgen says.

“Such fragmented systems are particularly vulnerable to being reduced in viability by the ‘death of a thousand cuts’, that is the loss of seemingly unimportant small areas that collectively support the viability of the native flora and fauna of the system.

“Destroy enough of these small areas, and the system collapses.”

by DAVID BELL

FORMER Perth councillor and ex-Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan slammed Perth council and its “beleaguered” lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi and her close allies on radio this week.

Incohesive and “bizarre” decision making had become routine at Perth council, she said on 6PR.

“There is evidence that the council is becoming increasingly dysfunctional and very strange decisions have been made to try to shut down debate.”

Last week councillors Jemma Green, Reece Harley and James Limnios tried to introduce another transparency reform, this time allowing councillors to speak their mind on city matters.

But Ms Scaffidi’s four staunchest allies—Jim Adamos, Janet Davidson, Judy McEvoy and Keith Yong— closed ranks to shut that down, with the support of Lily Chen who didn’t think the policy change was needed.

The motion came from Cr Green, who by convention should have moved it.

Instead Ms Scaffidi allowed Cr Davidson to move the motion, effectively denying Cr Green the right of introduction and reply.

“[It’s] a bizarre ruling to try to shut down and stop proper debate… that says to me there is something very wrong with this council,” Ms MacTiernan says.

“I have to say in 25 years of public life I’ve never heard of anything like this.”

Other council decisions also drew Ms MacTiernan’s fire including a proposal from council officers for 16 buildings to be placed on the city’s heritage register, including the Grand Central, owned by Ms Scaffidi and her husband Joe.

“All other 15 have been dealt with and placed on the municipal inventory,” Ms MacTiernan says.

Whilst on the planning committee Cr Harley was keen to see the 1903 building listed as per the staff and heritage consultant recommendation.

But recently the planning committee again deferred consideration at the September 13 meeting, despite staff saying they had all the information needed to list the building.

Ms MacTiernan called on new local government minister Paul Miles to step in and bring the matter to a conclusion, saying “It’s having an effect on the quality of governance in our capital city”.

Ms Scaffidi was a “breath of fresh air” when she first got in and she wouldn’t take away the good stuff she achieved in the early days, but now: “The lord mayor has become beleaguered by these processes going on for so long. Sensible sound decisions are not being made and the state government has to act”.

Mr Miles made clear to the Voice that it wasn’t his place to intervene in the court process that’s soon to hear the Scaffidi matter.