Local advocacy group the Kelmscott Progress Network has called on the public to protect what it describes as one of the community’s last natural connections to the Canning River.
Specifically, the group has implored locals to oppose the rezoning of lots 1 and 65 Fancote Street, both in the possession of the Water Corporation.
The issue was raised following a March 20th meeting of the City of Armadale Development Services Committee, which announced the City’s securing of $1,165,648 in funds from the federal government under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program in order to enhance this public open space, which they say is threatened by the rezoning proposal.
The committee meeting’s agenda described the prospective rezoning project.
“The Western Australian Planning Commission is requesting preliminary comments from the city on a landowner’s submission for an amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme to reclassify adjacent land from Parks and Recreation to Urban, and a concurrent amendment to the City’s Town Planning Scheme No.4 to reclassify the same land from Parks and Recreation to an appropriate zone, specifically a residential zone,” the agenda stated.
“The subject land comprises portions of Lots 65 and 1 Fancote Street, Kelmscott, which are owned in freehold by the Water Corporation and used for drainage purposes.
“The City has been advised that the landowner and the Water Corporation have entered into a contract of sale for the landowner to acquire the land subject to the land being reclassified in the Metropolitan Region Scheme so it can be amalgamated and developed with the landowner’s adjoining landholdings for an aged care facility.”
A description of the land and its current purpose was also provided.
“The land is constructed as an open ‘V’ drain that carries stormwater from the adjacent residential and commercial catchment to the west into the Canning River.
“The Metropolitan Region Scheme Amendment Proposal Area is a 3220m² portion of the drainage land that includes exotic and native vegetation – for example, a mature Eucalyptus rudis, or River Red Gum, and Cape Lilacs.
“The subject land is managed by the Water Corporation and is adjacent to and functionally part of the broader Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) Parks and Recreation reserve along the Canning River which is managed by the city.”
The council-owned lot 39 Fancote street has been described by the Kelmscott Progress Network as: “one of the last remaining sites with a visual and physical connection to the river.”
The group said they fear the permanent loss of the area, replaced by development, rather than remaining as a communal natural space contributing to the overall liveability of the city of Armadale area.
In particular, four aspects of the proposal are considered particularly problematic, these being the existing open drain being piped and filled in, eliminating the opportunity to create a natural, landscaped waterway, the undermining of a funded project already in the design phase, the severing of the connection between Lot 39 and the river, effectively rendering council’s land unusable for its intended purpose and the destruction of land containing native vegetation and mature trees that would likely be lost.
If interested, the Kelmscott Progress Network advises locals to express their views to the Western Australian Planning Commission at planning@dplh.wa.gov.au, or the Water Corporation at enquiries@watercorporation.com.au.
