Reminder: Bushmead/Cedar Woods proposed rezoning – Please make a brief comment by 16 Jan 2025:

Dear NRPG members and interested,

Just a last-minute reminder if you wish to have a say on the zoning of Lot 912 at Bushmead, your opportunity to comment closes tomorrow 16th Jan at 5.00pm, as the City of Swan has granted a extension: https://swanengage.swan.wa.gov.au/proposed-scheme-amendments/lps17-195-amendment-no195-local-planning-scheme-no17

NRPG has made a submission, attached for information, and below is a message from Steve Shearing, NRPG Committee member, and member of Kadina Brook Friends Group:

I encourage you have your say on several points: 

• The land could be rezoned Bush Forever
• I am of the view there is already too much traffic in the area
• There is other land that is already cleared, so why clear more Bushland and Creeks?
• Consider a strong lesson learned not to repeat the deaths of many kangaroos and native animals at Bushmead after clearing of bushland for the existing developments.

If this rezoning proceeds, consideration needs to be given to:

• Much larger buffer zones from the creek and the Threatened Ecological Community (TEC)
• Buffer zones from existing houses on Sadler Dive and surrounding streets, either by separation distance or potentially with similar lot sizing, in the interests of maintaining the semi-rural setting.

Many of these Items were discussed at the community meeting back in 2021. So as a minimum let’s hold the developers to account, while we have opportunity to do so.

History from 2016 & Meeting in November 2021 – Summary

Regional Planning

• DevelopmentWA purchased the 23.9ha site at Lot 912 Midland Road Bushmead from the Department of Defence (Commonwealth Government) in 2016.
• In 2020 the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) amended the Metropolitan Redevelopment Scheme (MRS), rezoning the site from ‘Public Purpose — Commonwealth Government’ reservation to ‘Urban’ and ‘Urban Deferred’.
• The City of Swan subsequently initiated an amendment to their Local Planning Scheme No. 17 to rezone this land to ‘Special Use’ to align with the MRS.

Environmental Planning

• The Local Planning Scheme (LPS) amendment was referred to government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who have been assessing if there is a need for a formal assessment prior to initiating the amendment.
• DevelopmentWA is liaising with the EPA on the environmental values of the site and to consider the best way forward. The amendment is currently on hold subject to advice from the EPA.
• Following resolution with the EPA, DevelopmentWA intends to progress a Local Structure Plan (LSP) that sensitively responds to the environmental values of the site and balances the desired urban outcome for residential development.

Local Structure Planning

• Following resolution of the LPS Amendment, a local structure plan will be submitted.
• The ‘Urban’ zone will facilitate primarily residential and public open space development.
• DevelopmentWA has engaged with surrounding residents in the past, most recently in November 2021 at a Community Session.  DevelopmentWA plan to re-engage the community during the structure planning process.
• Community comments around tree retention, the need for larger block sizes, etc. will be factored into the development of the Local Structure Plan.

Land Use Planning

• It is anticipated that the development will offer a diversity of homes sites, to cater for a range of housing types and price points.
• The Department of Education has requested provision of a primary school site in the northern portion of the site adjacent to the Cedar Woods Bushmead estate.
• The final land uses, redefining the area, will be determined as part of the future structure planning.
• DevelopmentWA intends to have an appropriate interface with existing Sadler Drive residents and will be sympathetic to the semi-rural setting.

Kind regards,
Steve Gates

President, NRPG Bushcarers

From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, 9 December 2024 1:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Bushmead/Cedar Woods proposed rezoning – Please make a brief comment by 16 Jan 2025:

Dear NRPG members and interested,

The City of Swan is inviting comments on changes to their Local Planning Scheme No 17 with Amendment 195.  The Executive summary is a useful overview: 1._LPS17-195_-_Executive_Summary_and_Amendment_Maps.pdf

This area (Lot 912, map below) has already been rezoned from ‘Parks and Recreation’ to ‘Urban’ and ‘Urban Deferred’ under the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) Amendment No.1366/57.

However, as the City of Swan presently proposes, this will result in more of the same high density development of Cedar Woods, and will destroy what is presently ‘parkland’ with good native tree canopy, has an area of Threatened Ecological Communities TECs’ (protected under the federal EPBC Act), and bounds along Kadina Brook.

If this type of development proceeds, there will be a massive loss of tree canopy as a minimum, and inadequate buffers from the TEC and Kadina Brook. (From the Google map you can already see the total clearing that’s happened off Ridge Hill Rd to the east of Lot 912).

The NRPG has already made the attached submission, so please feel free to support it and/or take points from this if you like, in your submission.

Please take a few minutes to have your say to the City of Swan at: LPS17-195 Amendment No.195 to Local Planning Scheme No.17 | Proposed Scheme Amendments | Planning | Swan Engage (DEADLINE 16 Jan 2025)

Kind regards,

Steve Gates

President, NRPG Bushcarers

0400-870-887 if you would like to discuss further