Conditional approval for Ellenbrook housing plan

The proposed Ellenbrook housing development, 20 kilometres north-east of Perth, has been given environmental approval, on condition that no development proceed until further conservation studies are undertaken.

The studies, recommended by the EPA, will determine whether any other areas need protection, in addition to the 450 hectares of the site already earmarked for conservation.

Today's decision by Environment Minister Bob Pearce has achieved a balance between environmental protection and the housing needs of an estimated 58,000 Western Australians.

The Ellenbrook proposal is for a major residential development on 1,800 hectares of land in the Shire of Swan.

It has been recognised as an essential component in meeting Perth's future housing needs, and is a strategic State project.

The site is currently zoned 'rural' under the Metropolitan Region Scheme.

A major scheme amendment seeks to rezone the majority of the site from 'rural' to 'urban deferred' in order to permit residential development of the site, while setting aside important wetland areas for parks and recreation, and conservation purposes.

Mr Pearce has dismissed appeals against the proposed rezoning and will allow the site to be zoned 'urban deferred', while conservation values are thoroughly investigated and important conservation areas identified.

"The rezoning to 'urban deferred' will allow the project to meet the Parliamentary deadline in terms of rezoning, but will not compromise the environment," Mr Pearce said.

"Without this rezoning, the project's progress would have been seriously delayed until the next session of Parliament."

However, Mr Pearce said rezoning the site to 'urban deferred' did not give developers the right to commence work on site.

He said before any development work began on the site, the project would have to submit to the normal planning processes - this included 'urban' zoning, local planning scheme zoning, structure or development plan approval under the local scheme, and subdivisional approval.

It would also have to comply with a range of environmental conditions set by the Minister.

Mr Pearce said his decision was made on condition that the site would not be upgraded to an 'urban' zoning until:

·         the 450 hectares in the north-west corner of the project site had been acquired for conservation;

·         additional survey work recommended by the EPA was finalised, and outcomes determined.  This would include surveys of endangered flora and fauna in the area;

·         any land identified during the survey work as requiring protection, was made the subject of a planning control area, pending resolution of its acquisition either through the subdivisional process or through purchase;

·         any acquisition of land had been determined on the basis of the area's previous 'rural' zoning.