373. Hon Alison Xamon to the minister representing the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the design of the proposed development on the site of the former Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park and the overwhelming community support for the retention of 100 per cent of that bushland, and I ask:
(a) were any designs considered that involved no clearing of this bushland;
(b) if yes to (a), will the Minister please table those designs; and
(c) if no to (a), why not?
Hon Stephen Dawson replied:
(a) No.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Preliminary designs considered a number of development options which had to balance a number of competing objectives across the site, including development over the existing carpark, access ways and drainage sump in the bushland. More recent iterations of the planning required consideration of the newly introduced State Planning Policy 3.7 – Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas. To manage the bushfire risk, on this site and for the surrounding vulnerable users, clearing is required.