Whaleback Public Golf Course in Canning handed over the mayor

18/12/97

The only golf course in the City of Canning has been handed over to the Mayor, Mick Lekias, by Planning Minister Graham Kierath.

The 45ha Whaleback Public Golf Course was held by Canning on a lease basis from the Western Australian Planning Commission but is now owned by the city.

"Expanses of open space that people in the community can use and enjoy are a product of the planning system," Mr Kierath said.

"That is probably the last thing on golfers' minds as they head for the 19th hole but the fact is, without forward planning, our growing city would not have these areas.

"Too often people regard planning as a list of rules and regulations about how high they can build an office or how close to the street their house can go, but strategic planning looks at a much bigger picture than that."

Mr Kierath said large areas in Perth were set aside for recreation and conservation under the Metropolitan Region Scheme, which is the blueprint for planning Perth into the future.

In the scheme, allowance is made to reserve areas of land for parks and recreation and Whaleback Public Golf Course is one of those reserves.

"The job of identifying land for these reserves rests with the Western Australian Planning Commission, which also buys land that is needed for public purposes," Mr Kierath said.

"The commission has about 70,000ha of land reserved for parks and recreation in the scheme and staff of the Ministry for Planning manage most of this land.

"Other areas are vested in local governments or other community groups which have taken over the management role.

"The commission and the Ministry do a fine job in managing the land, but ultimately this task has to be handed over to an appropriate authority.

"For instance, CALM is in the process of developing management plans for the major regional parks in Perth - including the Canning River Regional Park.

"In the case of Whaleback, the City of Canning has been leasing the 45ha since 1980 and with a Crown reserve that is vested in council, created this magnificent golf course.

"Many of our parks and recreation areas are reserved for conservation purposes so it is good to see this one being used for active recreation, a very important part of our lifestyle.

"Canning has done such a good job of developing the golf course that the commission has decided to hand over the land.

"The property is being transferred from the commission to the Crown so that it can be vested in the City of Canning for community recreation.

"It is my pleasure to officially hand over the land to the Mayor of Canning, Mick Lekias, so this asset can be enjoyed by the local community for many years to come."

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133