THE Shire of Mundaring voted to recommend the WA planning commission (WAPC) refuse structure plan 82 (SP82) due to negative effects on amenity, rural character, environment, traffic and bushfire safety.

The decision went against the officer recommendation for conditional approval.

Last year, Chidlow SP 82 sparks questions reported on the structure plan for an application to develop 53 rural residential lots, which at the time raised concerns about bushfire risks.

The matter returned to council early in November for assessment with the specifics of subdivision to be dealt with by the WAPC at a later stage.

Three residents asked questions with concerns about SP82 during public question time  and nine deputations raising concerns about the plan.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) administration and operations support officer Mimi Scully asked council if there was scope to remove certain building envelopes and associated access roads on the northern end of the plan, as that section abutted Chidlow’s Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary.

“This will provide a buffer between the nationally recognised sanctuary and the proposed development,” she said.

Shire of Mundaring community planning manager Scott Price said the revised  plan has a total of 48 lots, which was lower than the initial application and the northern access roads were recommended to be removed.

When Ms Scully raised concerns about domesticated cats around the sanctuary, Mr Price said new residents in the area were subject to shire cat laws.

The shire had recently reviewed their cat laws in line with state legislation to include containment provisions to keep cats at home and protect native species as reported in Mundaring to review cat laws.

Shire of Mundaring President Paige McNeil said that however the council was still waiting for the state government to provide the updated laws to the shire so that their cat law review is legally meaningful.

When council voted to recommend WAPC refusal, Ms Scully said they were encouraged by the shire’s support for the conservation work at Karakamia Sanctuary.

“Our concerns over the development are based on the density of building envelopes, infrastructure, and roads in SP82, and the impacts that they, and the associated land disturbance, will have on the wildlife protected by AWC within Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary,” she said.

“Karakamia is protected by an exclosure fence, designed to exclude introduced predators such as cats and foxes, but to allow native species such as woylies, brush-tailed possums, western pygmy possums, and brush-tailed phascogales to move from the safety of Karakamia to adjoining areas of natural habitat.

“We are also concerned about the impact of the vegetation disturbance associated with this proposal as it would be highly detrimental to these species, and the 124 different bird species who utilise the natural resources at Karakamia and this region.

“According to the structure plan’s flora and fauna assessment, among other things, SP82 is said to contain ‘prime breeding habitat for Carnaby’s black cockatoos and forest red-tailed black cockatoos may also breed in the area’.

“We hope that if this development does move forward, that the Shire of Mundaring is able to implement measures to improve the site’s ecological footprint.

“For example, placing restrictions on domestic animals for residents such as cat-curfews, would assist in protecting the region’s endemic species including South-western snake-necked turtle, brush-tailed phascogales, and echidnas.

“We are pleased by the support shown by several councillors, in ensuring that the due diligence is undertaken before any development approvals are given.

“We trust that the WAPC and Mundaring Shire will consider the concerns raised by our community at the shire meeting, when making decisions about this proposal.”