A public information session outlining the state government’s draft ‘Perth and Peel 
Green Growth Plan for 3.5 Million (PPGP).’ was held on Wednesday 23 March at the Bendigo Complex Club Room in Gingin.
A representative from the Department of Premier and Cabinet presented the plan which has been in development for nearly four years to a concerned audience of approximately 80 local stakeholders and Shire representatives.
The controversial 3000 page document proposes acquisition of 90 000 hectares of privately owned land in the Shires of Gingin, Chittering and Toodyay for conservation purposes. Question time prompted a barrage of queries from the floor raising valid points about the effects the plan would have on the region; how the value of land purchased would be decided; how the removal and subsequent replanting of pine trees in the Gnangara Pine Forrest would affect the water table and the Carnaby Cockatoo population; who would manage the conservation sites and the potential rates loss for local shires amongst them.
Cr Jan Court, Gingin Shire councillor pointed out that first and foremost the name of the plan was misleading – giving no indication that the plan actually affected the Shires of Gingin and Chittering. It is from within our shires that the land will be acquired – it will be used to offset to land developments in the Perth and Peel regions. However the name, and the seemingly tardy presentation of the plan for public submission meant that many affected parties – including local government have been unaware of the proposal until now.
Shire of Gingin Planning officer Lisa Edwards was very concerned about the lack of consultation with local government as well as ratepayers. “Local government
is expected to be transparent and I’d expect them to be transparent as well” she said. “I also don’t think the wheatbelt towns have been clearly identified”.
Her concerns were echoed by Cr Michelle Rousseau from the Shire of Chittering. “We’ve been working on our local planning strategy for years – and now this has just been snapped onto us” she said. Cr Rousseau also posed the question of whether smaller shires like the Shire of Chittering would receive any extra support to administer and manage the rollout in the plan.
Cr David Roe from the Shire of Gingin was primarily concerned about who would be responsible for the management of all the extra land – not just for fire risk
but pest management as well. An A3 map indicating the priority areas for land acquisition was also criticised for being too small and difficult to read.
The good news is…. The public submission deadline for the Green Growth Plan has been extended from April 8 to May 13, after a push from public stakeholders and local governments for more time. Information on how to make a public submission can be found at the Department of Premier and Cabinet How To Make A Submission page.
