Currently rezoning of Lot 3 South Coast Highway, gateway to William Bay National Park, for major tourism development is with the WA Planning Commission (WAPC).  When WAPC planners have reviewed it, it goes to the Statutory Planning Committee. The Committee makes a recommendation to Planning Minister John Carey, who makes the decision. The WAPC documents are usually confidential.

The Minister can send the matter back to Shire of Denmark for modification, reject it or accept it.

Minister Carey needs to hear from you! It would be good if he heard from every single one of you and all your friends and relatives! Let him know that you want him to reject Amendment 147 to Shire of Denmark Town Planning Scheme No. 3. 

You can phone him on (08) 9443 2359  or email: john.carey@mp.wa.gov.au.

There are strong grounds for rejection: 

Environmental protection - 

• William Bay is already under pressure and in danger of degradation; it's part of a world recognised biodiversity hotspot, its fragile ecosystems are at risk. 
• issues raised by EPA and Dept of Water and Environmental Regulation with development of Lot 3 include, but are not limited to, habitat protection; treatment and disposal of wastewater, including effluent; nutrient run-off; pollution of neighbouring wetlands, creek, Parry Inlet and the risk to groundwater; noise and night light impacts on native species.

Road safety - Main Roads warns that sight lines are insufficient for entry and egress at Lot 3; its entry location at best "minimises the potential for high speed right angle crashes in the vicinity".

Bio security - Dept Primary Industry and Regional Development warns of bio security incursion caused by tourism; neighbouring farms and a meadery are at risk; DPIRD also warns about stock losses.

Public health - Dept of Health advises it does not support the rezoning and warns of chemical hazards; DOH is also concerned about effluent and wastewater volumes and disposal and finds that there is insufficient information for it to ensure that groundwater and the environment will not be affected by effluent. 

Bushfire risk - Dept of Fire and Emergency Services state that the bushfire management plan is not compliant; the element that relates to tourism proposals is not addressed; the land should not be rezoned as it has not been demonstrated that it can be compliant; the bushfire attack level assessment is such that DFES does not support a planning proposal for Lot 3.

What the local community wants - the Shire failed to take the wishes and concerns of the neighbours into account: of the 29 submissions on Lot 3 rezoning and tourist development received from William Bay residents, 28 were opposed, only one was in favour. 

Please take time to phone or email Minister Carey. I know each of you will have your own good reasons for saying no to rezoning for tourism development and the Minister will benefit from the feedback.

If you've been meaning to but haven't quite got around to sharing the petition with your family, friends, contacts please will you do that too? Ask them to sign, share and comment. And check out the comments that have already been made. They're worth reading and liking.

Happy weekend and thanks to all of you for your support.