Ellenbrook land to be annexed for housing

12/7/93

The State Government will conserve 560 hectares of bushland in the Ellenbrook locality as part of planning for Perth's largest residential development.

The move was announced today by the chairman of the State Government's Ministerial Council for Urban Development, Planning Minister Richard Lewis.

"The Ellenbrook housing proposal is strategically important in meeting the growing housing needs of people in the Perth region," Mr Lewis said.

The Ellenbrook joint venture between Homeswest and Sanwa Vines Pty Ltd covers more than 1,200 hectares of land 25 kilometres north-east of Perth.

It will provide homes for more than 35,000 people over the next 15 years, which is equivalent to more than 10 per cent of the anticipated housing demand over the period.

Mr Lewis said that Ellenbrook would generate more than $1.5 billion worth of investment during its development, providing much needed employment and services in the area.

He said the Ministerial Council for Urban Development agreed to the conservation area following advice from the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Department of Planning and Urban Development.

"Final approvals for urban development at Ellenbrook were given by the Minister for the Environment in October last year," Mr Lewis said.

"However, they were conditional upon the developers undertaking further environmental studies of flora and fauna to establish which areas could be developed and which areas should be conserved."

Mr Lewis said these studies had resulted in the conservation of a further 110 hectares of unique bushland, in addition to 450 hectares that had already been identified for protection within the Ellenbrook area.

He said the decision would provide conservation for sensitive wetlands, flora and fauna in an area larger than Kings Park.

"There is also the possibility of managing 300 hectares of this conservation area as a privately-owned wildlife sanctuary," Mr Lewis said.

The Minister said that to ensure the viability of the residential project, the State Government had agreed in principle to a land exchange involving an area of about 200 hectares of State forest to the east of Ellenbrook.

This land would be subject to further appropriate approvals.

Media contact: Paul Plowman 222 9595 : 221 1377