Greens Member for North Metropolitan Region Hon Alison Xamon MLC has today strongly urged the Government to listen to the will of the community and scrap plans to clear 50 per cent of bushland at the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital development site.
Ms Xamon yesterday revealed through questions in Parliament that the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation received 1,001 submissions opposing clearing permit application CPS 7781/1, which would facilitate the clearing of 1.52ha of Banksia woodland at Lemnos Street.
The Government admitted it had received no submissions which supported the application.
“That more than 1000 Western Australians took the time to contact the Government to express their strong will that this patch of bush should not be cleared, is very significant,” Ms Xamon said.
“I have said before that the Greens support redevelopment at the site, but with keeping all remaining bushland intact and maintaining the important vegetated link between Shenton Bushland and Underwood Avenue Bushland.
“The local Council shares this view. It has been reflected in consistent advice from environmental agencies including the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and Environmental Protection Authority. And now we know without a doubt that the community absolutely does not support clearing at this site.
“I am calling on the environmental regulator to reject the clearing proposal before it.
“And I am calling on the Government to live up to live up to its commitment to protecting the environment and review the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital redevelopment scheme as a matter of priority.”
