The chickens have come home to roost as the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale Council concluded the long-discussed topic of acquiring new land on Pure Steel Lane, with a decision against the acquisition, and substantial reference to said chickens.
The specific properties discussed were 24 (Lot 12) and 46 (Lot 11) Pure Steel Lane, Mundijong.
The former held an indicative purchase price of $4,200,000, while the latter sat at $3,500,000. The purchase was expected to be made via a 20-year loan at 5 per cent interest, totalling approximately $4,840,000 in interest repayments over the total period.
While the Business Plan for this major land acquisition had been endorsed at the 17 June Special Council Meeting, at the 31 August Special Council Meeting, the topic received heavy opposition, with heated debate occurring on the issue.
The proposed use of the land was to include waste services, an operations centre, an animal management integrated facility and other services.
Prior to deliberation, public consultation had occurred, with all 13 responses opposing the purchase.
The majority of submissions focused on concerns regarding the long-term financial impact of the acquisition, the potential future cost of developing the site, the use of borrowings and whether alternative Shire-owned land could be used instead of acquiring additional land.
Several individuals also questioned whether current community priorities would be better served through investment in roads, community facilities and existing infrastructure rather than future operational facilities.
Concerns were also raised regarding environmental impacts, including flora and fauna, native vegetation, Black Cockatoo habitat, contamination, groundwater, drainage, stormwater management, traffic, dust, noise and bushfire risk.
“We cannot keep borrowing money without the ability to pay it back unless our rates continue to rise. It won’t be long and many of us won’t be able to afford to live here,” one respondent wrote.
“I think trying to move part of the waste transfer station close to properties which might not be running as a business would be hard to pass council. I think looking at purchasing property alongside the industrial area on Kargotich Road should be the place to target for the future shire depot works,” wrote another.
Council deliberation on the matter commenced as part of an alternate motion circulated by Cr Nathan Bishop, who emphasised the Shire’s current possession of strategic landholdings at No. 10 (Lot 500) Lampiter Drive, Mardella, within walking distance of Pure Steel Lane.
While arguing for the importance of bearing their legacy on Shire affairs in mind, Cr Bishop invoked an age-old piece of humour into his speech.
“I think tonight’s debate is best represented through a joke. Councillors, why did the chicken cross the road?”
Cr Bishop would answer that it was to save the community $7.7 million, by crossing the road to Lampiter Drive, which he argued has immense potential to meet logistic needs into the future. He therefore asked his fellow councillors to cross the road. Other councillors, including Kim Glisenti, would reference the chicken several times later in the meeting.
Cr Matthew Scott spoke in favour of the purchase.
“I’d like to thank the owners of the two Pure Steel Lane lots for their patience throughout this process. With growing population, it is only going to get harder trying to fit everyone into the Shire. Pure Steel Lane ticks the boxes, as it’s already industrial land, having the buffer of Tonkin Highway and Mundijong Road. I think Pure Steel Lane is the way to go, as we’ll have many opportunities to sell off parcels of land in the future to pay off the loan.”
At the end of debate, Councillors Glisenti, Mazzini, Chan, Bishop and Deputy President Jerrett voted for the rejection of the purchase, with President Coales and Cr Scott voting for the purchase to proceed.
