Planned Mandurah wetlands development to be restricted

Environment Minister Jim McGinty has decided to significantly restrict a proposed residential and canal development on Mandurah's Creery Wetlands for environmental reasons. 

Mr McGinty said he had made the decision after considering appeals against the Environmental Protection Authority's recommendations on the canal proposal by the company, Esplanade (Mandurah).

"The proposed development site can be divided into three sections - an area of woodland, samphire flats and an estuary buffer zone," Mr McGinty said. 

"The EPA has determined that the environmental value of the woodlands is considered questionable.

"However, after consideration of the appeals I have decided that the samphire flats are a significant part of the Creery Wetlands and have environmental values worth preserving. 

"For this reason, I cannot approve any residential or canal development on this part of the site." 

Mr McGinty said he was aware that in 1982 the samphire flats were deemed acceptable as a canal development.  However, since then there had been a number of waterside developments undertaken in Mandurah which had reduced the amount of native waterfront land and Australia had become a signatory to the RAMSAR Convention - which places obligations on a nation to protect the habitat of migratory birds. 

"There is a greater awareness that the loss of wetlands and bird habitat can not continue.  The Peel-Harvey estuarine system is recognised as one of the most important waterbird habitats in the South-West." 

Mr McGinty said the remaining area of the wetlands - the buffer zone containing the inlet shallows - would have been preserved anyway as part of the developers plans for the area. 

"As a result of my determination, there are no environmental reasons why the development should not go ahead on the woodlands area," he said. 

"However, if the proponent believes the project is no longer viable, then I would be prepared to discuss other uses for the site. 

"For example, the Member for Murray, Keith Read, and the ALP candidate for Mandurah, David Templeman, have advocated the establishment of an environment centre at the site."