COMMUNITY frustration is mounting in Henley Brook as new developments have begun transforming the native bushland into high-density housing estates, raising serious questions about the City of Swan’s commitment to environmental protection

Residents of the area are calling the new development a failure of environmental oversight, with reports of widespread native vegetation and mature tree clearing along key thoroughfares such as Henley Street and Park Street.

Local resident Reto Ammann voiced his concerns, describing the affected areas of future housing as glorified sand pits, an approach he argues is solely designed to maximise profits.

The destruction is occurring despite repeated community objections to development plans, which residents say have been largely disregarded by the City of Swan in favor of approving the projects.

“This in a time where society talks about global warming and increasing tree canopies to reduce heat stress, the inaction of the City of Swan is irresponsible,” he said.

The urban structure plan, created by the Burgess Design group, was approved by the Western Australian Planning Commission in 2021, an action that cleared the way for future development while dismissing the site’s environmental value.

The Henley Brook local structure plan acknowledged the presence of small patches of banksia woodland and black cockatoo roosting trees but concluded that the sites biodiversity values were “limited” and that neither features were “considered to be of conservation significance”.

The extensive land clearing comes as the City of Swan recently concluded public consultation on its proposed ‘Tree Protection and Management Local Planning Policy,’ which is scheduled for a council decision on November 12.

However, Mr Ammann contends the measure is “too little, too late” as the policy fails to consider already approved development plans.

“The native tree retention is a positive, but how is that going to help here?” he said.

“It’s a bit late for such a policy, how can they retain this land if its already been bulldozed.”

As reported in Henley Brook property flooding concerns the urban development in the area and the raised water tables has been a concern for Henley Brook residents for months.

“There’s definitely an impact on the water table from this construction,” Mr Ammann said

“All the water from these areas is getting pumped out and then there’s a downstream impact.

“I’m not the only one affected, there are people who have lived here for 40 plus years worried their properties will be flooded from the displaced water.”

While acknowledging the need for new housing to accommodate a growing population, Mr Ammann insists that development must be undertaken in an environmentally responsible manner.

“I want to see the city review what they are doing in these areas,” he said.

“Even if things are already planned and approved, can we tweak things?

“Can we build around some of the native vegetation and have more integrated planning areas?”

City of Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson supported the decision saying the scale of clearing was in line with local and state government policies and was approved by the state’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

“The Henley Brook structure plan was approved… with a goal of creating approximately 3500 dwellings providing homes for around 9800 people,” she said.

“Key impacts such as potential clearing of trees that could affect black cockatoo habitat have been included with the EPA recommending mitigation strategies, such as preserving black cockatoo habitat trees in open space design.

“Where vegetation is required to be removed all relevant approvals are to be in place prior to commencement of works.”