KALAMUNDA council acknowledged community concern over a proposed groundwater extraction project in Pickering Brook, voting unanimously to note two petitions opposing the development.

The petitions relate to a development application at Lot 12, 30 Repatriation Road, where a large volume of water would be extracted for sale.

Councillor David Modolo, who moved the motion, said although the recommendation was only to note the petitions, it was important to speak given the strong public interest.

“This matter all kicked off on December 16 last year,” he said.

“The city, via its official Facebook page, posted that a bottling company was accessing groundwater from a private property.

“We’ve since found out that there’s actually no bottling company involved here, and the characterisation of the issue by the city is something that I’ve brought into question.

“I must say that to date I haven’t received an explanation that I’m particularly happy with but at this stage also there’s nothing further that I think needs to be said publicly on that side issue.

“Suffice to say that after the post was posted my phone blew up and I suspect it did for other councillors’ phones as well.”

Community members were concerned it would be a repeat of the Coca Cola water extraction in Karragullen as reported in Pickering Brook water extraction proposal raises resident concern.

“And regardless of characterisation importantly here we are dealing with a development application that involves extracting an objectively large volume of water for the purposes of sale,” Cr Modolo said.

“Everyone is absolutely united in their belief that the future of Pickering Brook is in serious doubt as declining rainfall and global supply chains threaten generations of family-run businesses in orcharding and primary industry.”

Cr Modolo said the uncertainty had led families to take different approaches, from branching into hospitality and distilling to farming ventures.

Councillor Geoff Stallard seconded the motion and said poor early communication had contributed to community angst.

“It’s a good lesson for us in the future to make sure something as potentially controversial as this is put out there accurately at the start,” he said.

Cr Stallard said officers were working from limited information at the time but urged caution moving forward.

“What we put out there is something that’s pretty accurate, although the information that the staff received was very inadequate,” he said.

“They had no real idea and so they were working from a bit of a blind spot as well.

“I’d rather next time that we have a little bit more detail before we make a public process of it.”

A final decision on the application is yet to be made by City of Kalamunda council.