THE North Ellenbrook East district structure plan (NEEDSP) was approved at council despite serious concerns about environmental impact and future flooding being brought up during debate.

Councillor Jennifer Catalano spoke against the motion and cited community concerns about endangering wildlife, imposte to be borne by ratepayers and the potential of flooding.

“It is clear the majority of the area of the NEEDSP area is a floodway,” she said.

“Most of the area already has a high water-table and is prone to flooding.

“We’ve already seen the slow unfolding disaster throughout the Swan Valley south of Ellenbrook from the infilling of wetlands in the growth corridor for the suburbs from Caversham to Henley Brook.

“We’ve seen how changes in hydrology have caused flooding in the new suburbs and rising groundwater on the adjacent rural land of the Swan Valley, rendering the land useless for agriculture as it turns agricultural land into wetlands, turns creeks into drains and what were wetlands into compensation basins and sumps where fringing vegetation is drowned as algal bloom and pollution intensifies

“By now everyone from the state government to the council know the drainage strategy will fail because of the soil types, high water table and volume of water.

“So, the question is, ‘Who is going to wear the costs of the damage to land livelihoods and property if this district structure plan continues?’

“It definitely should not be the City of Swan ratepayers, and my job here tonight is to warn you on behalf of them.”

Cr Catalano said that apart from the flood risks, council already were of the same opinion that regional open space categorisation was still needed to make sure state infrastructure costs didn’t need to be paid by ratepayers.

She said the environmental impacts and disturbance to roosting areas for cockatoos and western swamp tortoise habitats were also concerns held by the community.

Cr Catalano moved a motion to note the amendment and advise the WA Planning Commission (WAPC) that the NEEDSP should be abandoned, but it was lost.

Councillor Sarah Howlett then moved for council to adopt the officer’s recommendation but with additional points that strengthened protection of wetland environments and roosting areas for cockatoos.

Cr Howlett said the entire roost needed to be protected and removal of trees in the area would impact the day and night roost.

“Whilst I have amended this motion to correctly apply the mapping to the roosting sites and the alignment of the reserves and wetlands, I echo the comments made earlier by Cr Catalano,” she said.

“I want to add my concern that city staff have not viewed nor assessed three documents on which the EPA based its decision to not formally assess the Metropolitan Regional Scheme amendment 1411.

“These documents include the ecohydrological impact assessment 2023, the updated groundwater modelling report and the updated environmental assessment report 2023.

“Given the known issues with groundwater arising from the Dayton development, it concerns me greatly that the city has not requested these documents nor raised it in the officer’s recommendation

“Should we really be voting tonight without this information having been viewed by the officers informing their recommendation tonight?

“(My motion) is to ensure that the true extent of the protection is afforded to the black cockatoo roosts and the waterways which is hugely important to the landowner and also to the environment.

“The NEEDSP, if it remains as it is, will deliver the same groundwater and flooding issues that are currently being experienced in the southern areas of Dayton and this will be the responsibility of the city in years to come.”

In light of this information, Cr Howlett voted against her own motion, with support from Cr Catalano, however the motion was carried with council set to note amendment 1 to the NEEDSP and advise the WAPC of council’s position.

The resolution included the new points about modified wetland and reserve boundaries however concerns about future hydrological impacts wasn’t directly addressed.