Media Statements - East Wanneroo land use water management strategy released for comment

14/11/05

The State Government’s strategy to resolve long-standing land use and water management issues in East Wanneroo is now ready for public comment.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said historically, planning for the East Wanneroo area had been directed at protecting rural land for existing and future agricultural and horticultural activities.

“This approach clearly must be reconsidered as climate change and lower rainfall have resulted in the decline of water table levels and the subsequent limited availability of groundwater,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“The East Wanneroo rural area is within the Wanneroo groundwater area and the allocation of the groundwater is almost fully allocated.

“The future expansion and long-term viability of the industry is under pressure from a number of sources including declining water table levels, little prospect of future water licences and allocations, small lot sizes and encroaching urban and rural living development.

“The East Wanneroo community has raised many issues in relation to current water resource planning, allocation and licensing and the lack of strategic land use planning for the area.

“The draft East Wanneroo land use and water management strategy examines these issues and proposes solutions to the competing demands for groundwater and future land use and development.”

In south-eastern Wanneroo, it is proposed to rezone the land from rural to urban and to rural living.

“This land is not ideal for long-term agriculture or horticulture uses due to the changing demographics of land owners, conflict with other land uses, the smaller inefficient rural lot sizes, changing agricultural economics and the adverse impact that agriculture or horticulture has on the wetlands,” the Minister explained.

“The future of the agricultural and horticultural industry is supported by the proposal to establish an agricultural precinct in north-eastern Wanneroo.

“The new precinct is partly on crown land that is soon to be cleared (when the pines are harvested) and will replace the land lost to future urban development in south-eastern Wanneroo.

“A guaranteed water supply for new agricultural activities in the new precinct will be based on the use of recycled water from the Beenyup and future Alkimos wastewater treatment plants.”

As part of implementation of the strategy, an overall water resource management plan for the Gnangara Mound will be prepared by the Office of Water Strategy with assistance from the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and other State Government agencies.

The management plan will include further studies into the recycled water scheme for the new agricultural precinct.

Community consultation has been an important component of the development of the draft strategy.

A community consultative committee, chaired by Wanneroo MLA Dianne Guise, was established to work with the community to develop the draft strategy.

“In May 2004, a preliminary discussion paper containing three draft land use scenarios was released for public comment,” Ms Guise said.

“Overall support for the proposed land use change was expressed in the 432 submissions received, as well as a variety of other views.

“In November 2004, I hosted a community forum where 115 community members took the opportunity to provide input into the planning process.

“The draft strategy has received input from the community, the City of Wanneroo and other State Government agencies. It provides local residents, businesses and investors with a framework for the long-term future of their community and provides some certainty.

“Through initiatives such as the strategy, we are helping protect WA’s unique environment.

“I encourage all members of the community to have their say on our community’s future.”

The draft strategy is available from the Western Australian Planning Commission website - http://www.wapc.wa.gov.au

The public comment period closes on Friday, January 27 2006.

Minister's office - 9213 6400