A PROPOSED facility in Henley Brook would provide supported accommodation for Aboriginal people travelling to Perth for medical treatment, addressing a gap in culturally appropriate care.

To facilitate the proposal, amendment 16 to the Swan Valley Planning Scheme seeks to rezone land from priority agriculture to special use.

The Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Health (FISH) aims to rezone their two existing properties which is also set to be a November Swan council meeting agenda item.

In response to questions from Echo News, FISH said the facility would accommodate Nyiyaparli people travelling from the Pilbara, with staff support and a permanent presence on site.

The organisation said patients travelling long distances could face inadequate accommodation, separation from family and community, and a lack of culturally appropriate support.

“To clarify, this is not a drug or alcohol rehabilitation facility,” they said.

“The facility is not a hospital.

“Residents will attend existing hospitals and medical services across Perth for their treatment.”

FISH said the accommodation would support people receiving treatment for conditions including heart disease, cancer, kidney disease and diabetes.

They said the premises would be drug- and alcohol-free, with security arrangements.

FISH said Henley Brook was chosen for its rural setting and connection to the organisation’s adjoining Two Swans Estate, formerly The Olive Estate, housing Maali Café which showcases dishes with Indigenous ingedients.

The organisation said the properties would work together through cultural activities, hospitality, Aboriginal art and opportunities to grow and harvest native foods.

“The Swan Valley’s peaceful rural environment, open spaces, gardens and natural surroundings are important elements of the healing and wellbeing environment we want to create,” they said.

FISH said its plans included productive planting and the harvesting of traditional foods and medicines on 2ha of the property, aiming to retain the agricultural aspect.

They also anticipated Aboriginal employment and opportunities through tourism, hospitality and its social enterprise shop.

Residents who were artists could also join programs at the adjoining property which form part of their cultural tourism initiatives, alongside the accommodation’s purpose of supporting patients travelling to Perth to access medical treatment.

FISH said further development approvals and technical assessments would be required before construction.

EPA chair Darren Walsh said the amendment did not require formal environmental assessment after preliminary investigations.

“The EPA stated that it considered potential impacts on black cockatoo habitat and mature trees could be managed through recommended scheme provisions and other statutory processes,” he said.

“This includes where a development application proposes clearing that an assessment of black cockatoo habitat is undertaken in accordance with state and commonwealth guidance.”

Rural landscape impacts could be addressed through future planning, including setbacks from West Swan Road.

A Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage spokesperson said the proposal will be assessed against the objectives of the Swan Valley Planning Act 2020 and the Swan Valley Planning Scheme 1.

“(This includes) the protection of productive agricultural land and the Swan Valley’s rural character,” they said.

“Approval of the amendment would not approve the development.

“A separate development application would still be required, allowing the detailed design, operation and potential impacts on neighbouring properties to be assessed.”

City of Swan chief executive Stephen Cain said the amendment was due to be discussed at the city’s ordinary council meeting on November 11.

Public submissions on the proposed amendment may
be made until November 23 via the website.