THE EPA has highlighted that a small area of vegetation within amendment 1421 involving lots in Brabham and Dayton is covered by an existing ministerial statement for the Malaga to Ellenbrook rail works proposal already assessed by the authority.

The July 2024 Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) amendment report includes advice provided by the EPA stating the Malaga to Ellenbrook rail works proposal included land within the amendment area as native vegetation retention areas (NVRA), which were proposed to be avoided as part of the proponent’s mitigation measures for the proposal.

"The EPA considered the incorporation of the NVRAs to protect, amongst other values, black cockatoo fauna habitat and potential breeding trees,’’ the advice said.

“The quantification of residual impacts and offset requirements, included the retention of NVRAs.’’

What the WAPC report describes as remnant eucalyptus and marri vegetation recorded to be in ‘degraded’ to ‘completely degraded’ condition’ the EPA said was likely to be high quality foraging and potential nesting habitat for threatened species of black cockatoo, including because of the location’s proximity to Whiteman Park.

“Several trees contain potentially suitable hollows and an internal hollow inspection of these trees has not been completed,’’ the EPA said.

The EPA said it expected that nesting trees with suitable hollows were also retained and protected.

“The EPA considers additional offsets should be considered... consistent with Ministerial Statement (MS) 1156 if any high quality foraging habitat is removed.

The EPA also advised that any future schemes and/or proposals which proposed development within NVRAs may be considered significant and would each be considered on their own merits.

Amendment 1421 – out for comment until August 16 – proposes to transfer land within Brabham and Dayton from parks and recreation reservation to the urban zone, public purposes – special uses to the urban zone, and primary regional roads to the urban deferred zone.

Concern Bush Forever link to Whiteman Park cut off reported some residents are against the proposed rezoning of the land, which includes Bush Forever and land once owned by the Whiteman and Day families.

Urban Bushland Council (UBC) WA has recommended Planning Minister John Carey reject it citing concerns including that it would lead to the loss of linkages between Bush Forever sites and areas of native trees and vegetation and loss of black cockatoo habitat.

“The UBC submits that loss of eucalyptus and marri trees within this MRS amendment area, would have a significant effect on cockatoos using this habitat,’’ they said.

The WAPC amendment 1421 report said some of  the amendment area contained scattered remnant vegetation, some of which was identified as being part of NVRAs in the environmental approval, which was issued, for the construction of the Ellenbrook passenger railway line (MS 1156).

“The conditions of this approval require the Public Transit Authority to avoid any direct or indirect impacts on the remnant vegetation in the NVRAs arising from the construction of the railway line,’’ the WAPC report said.

“As such, consideration may need to be given to the potential retention and protection of this vegetation in subsequent planning stages.”

The December 2020 MS 1156 said the proponent should undertake offsets to achieve the objective of counterbalancing the significant residual impact on environmental values as a result of the implementation of the proposal.

MS 1156 lists the loss of banksia woodlands, black cockatoo foraging habitat and potential black cockatoo breeding trees as well as 1.9ha of conservation category wetlands, 0.5ha of resource enhancement wetlands and 17.2ha of Bush Forever site 304, which along with Bush Forever site 200, is mentioned in the environmental assessment management strategy prepared for Lot 822 Youle Dean Road due to go before the City of Swan council on August 14.