HON ALISON XAMON (North Metropolitan) [10.06 pm]: I rise tonight to speak on the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital redevelopment site, which I have spoken about before. Since I last spoke about this matter, I have received the environmental advice pertaining to this site and I want to bring this to the attention of the chamber. We are talking about the bushland that forms part of the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital redevelopment site, which is otherwise known as the Montario Quarter. Through the metropolitan region scheme amendment process, both the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Environmental Protection Authority provided advice to the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage on environmental matters. Both agencies anticipated and requested that their advice would be kept in mind throughout all phases of the project. The EPA said that it chose not to assess the site but provided some very good advice and recommendations. It advised that there is banksia woodland, which it describes as being in very good condition and that the woodland provides a vegetated linkage between Shenton bushland and Underwood Avenue bushland, which are both Bush Forever sites. As I have mentioned before, this constitutes an important ecological linkage. The EPA supports the proposal to retain the banksia woodland in public open space and to also retain as much remnant vegetation as possible.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions states that the remnant vegetation linkage is in good or better condition and it contains more than 100 of the declared rare Jacksonia sericea, otherwise known as waldjumi shrubs. The department also said the site would provide an important linkage between Shenton bushland and Underwood Avenue bushland. The document provided states that to maximise the viability and value of the linked bushland remnants in this local area, planning consideration should be given to how remnant vegetation can be retained and enhanced. The department recommends that for any future redevelopment of the subject lots, consideration be given to protection of existing remnant vegetation in public open space at the subsequent outline development plan stage.
I would like to reiterate that the community, the council and the Greens all support redeveloping the site. We support keeping all the remnant bushland and maintaining its value as an ecological linkage. The consistent advice from the environmental agencies is to retain as much of this bushland as possible, as I have just evidenced. Instead, we have been given a proposal to clear 50 per cent of the site even though nobody wants that. I stress that it is entirely possible for us to have a win–win situation here with a dense urban infill development that will respect our natural heritage as much as our built heritage. I am calling on the Minister for Planning to review the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital redevelopment improvement scheme and to live up to this government’s commitment to the environment. I am calling on the environmental regulator to reject the clearing proposals that are currently before it. I note that public submissions close on 6 November. Of course, I have previously tabled a petition in this place on this matter that I suspect will be considered by the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs.
I would like also to say that on Sunday I went along to Bold Park where Friends of Bold Park Bushland launched a book called 2017 Bold Park Bushland Sanctuary in the City. It outlines the history of Bold Park and how Bold Park came to be, and how this really important, recognised urban bushland site continues to be protected. I really want to draw to people’s attention that Bold Park came about because people showed foresight in retaining bushland on the Swan coastal plain. People enjoy it all the time. Bold Park came about also because the community campaigned and people listened to that campaign. We have very limited remaining urban bushland within metropolitan Perth. We need to show the same sort of foresight shown by the people who established amazing sites such as Bold Park. I really hope that we can look at and protect what is being left because we can have it both ways. We can ensure we are protecting our remnant bushland at the same time as we are creating liveable, vibrant cities. All it takes is just a little bit of foresight.