SHIRE of Mundaring councillors have voted to make a submission to the State Administrative Tribunal review of North Stoneville SP 34 unlike Save Perth Hills, which is seeking to intervene in the process.

Councillors made the decision at the shire’s ordinary council meeting on August 13.

Shire President Paige McNeil, who is a former Save Perth Hills (SPH) chair, did not take part in the vote, after declaring she holds an interest in a property in the proximity of structure plan 34.

In a statement chief executive officer Jason Whiteaker said the decision to make a submission in the ongoing review followed the Western Australian Planning Commission’s (WAPC) refusal to approve the amended structure plan due to unresolved concerns about bushfire risk, traffic impacts and environmental conservation.

“The council resolved not to seek leave to intervene in the review, acknowledging the high bar set by the SAT for such interventions,’’ he said.

“But due to the significant public safety, environmental, and planning implications for the shire, the council will apply to make submissions, focusing on issues directly affecting the community.’’

North Stoneville hearing adjourned (Echo News, August 16) reported SPH is seeking to intervene in the SAT hearing under section 37(3) of the State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004.

SPH chair Peter Brazier said they considered the council’s decision to apply to make a submission appropriate.

“SPH, on behalf of the community, will seek to intervene to provide ‘new information’ to prove that if North Stoneville is approved, life and property cannot be protected,’’ he said.

“This has the makings of a future class action due to improper planning in bushfire prone areas around threatening, or causing loss, of human lives and destruction to private property and public infrastructure.’’

North Stoneville bushfire simulation impresses CSIRO (Echo News, April 14, 2023) reported the bushfire simulation modelling carried out for the amended North Stoneville structure plan Part 3B had attracted support from the CSIRO bushfire behaviour and risks team.

Leader Andrew Sullivan said the company behind the bushfire modelling report had gone to great lengths to make it as bullet-proof as they could.

“The science that they’ve employed to do this is basically the best available for that job and they’ve gone to great lengths to try and ensure that it is as meaningful and applicable as possible to the conditions,’’ Dr Sullivan said.

This week a CSIRO spokeswoman said they would not be making a submission to the SAT hearing under section 242 of the Planning Development Act 2005.