A HIGH-stakes standoff is developing between the City of Kalamunda and local residents over a proposed 15ha ticketed public event at Jorgensen Park, with community members arguing the city is using a non-disclosure agreement to bypass public oversight.

The proposal, which would see a significant portion of the Class A Reserve fenced off for up to five months, is currently under negotiation with proponent Kzemos Australia for a large-scale touring production.

Kalamunda resident Toni Warden said the lack of information has left the community in the dark and raised serious questions regarding public disclosures.

“How can you ask the public to make a comment on something that affects a public owned property without giving any information about what it involves?” Ms Warden said.

“The fencing plan shows a significant area that will have a high impact on valuable native vegetation, animals, while cutting off regular users from a popularly used area.

“Residents aren’t given any information before they’re expected to make a submission for or against the proposal.”

Ms Warden argued the scale of the undertaking should have triggered a longer public consultation process, so the community could have their say.

“The proposal lends itself more towards a six-week public consultation and the publishing of a business plan so that the community members can make a better judgment around what is actually being proposed,” she said.

The event would take place from early April to July 31, with further options to extend until August 31.

Ms Warden warned that the production, which is officially advertised as a ticketed concert event, could have an impact on local flora and fauna through the introduction of high-intensity artificial elements.

“It will need strobing lights, it will need loud sound for the production, and there’s the worries around what’s going to be happening to animals and the general well-being of the marsupials and birds,” Ms Warden said.

City of Kalamunda Mayor Margaret Thomas said the city’s decision to keep specific information confidential is a temporary measure until the lease is finalised.

“At this stage, the City of Kalamunda is bound by a confidentiality agreement, and the lease remains in a proposed state,” she said.

“As a result, information relating to a future event application is not yet available.

“Should the lease be granted and the event proposal progresses, the city will follow all required statutory processes and will engage with the relevant state agencies where appropriate.”

Mayor Thomas said detailed reports on the event’s impact on the community would be produced as the project moves forward.

“More detailed information regarding matters such as event scale, environmental assessments, traffic and safety planning, and financial arrangements would only become available if a formal event application is submitted for assessment.

“We appreciate the community’s interest and will keep the community informed as the process progresses.”

Public consultation on the proposal is open until Friday, March 13 and residents are encouraged to submit questions or comments about the lease agreement to the city via email at enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au

*A previous edition incorrectly said concert event instead of ticketed public event.