MORE than four years after the first steps toward townsite expansion aimed to rejuvenate Pickering Brook tourism, residents still await the rezoning of rural land with an unclear timeline.

Residents were excited to see a step towards tourism growth in the area back in 2020, as reported in Pickering Brook to expand (Echo News, November 27, 2020), after the first phase of a two-phase report was endorsed by state government.

In that article, Pickering Brook resident Sue Marchesano said she had been waiting 30 years for the expansion.

More than four years on, Mrs Marchesano is still waiting as the 14ha of land to be rezoned from rural to urban remains unchanged and under assessment.

A Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) spokesperson confirmed with Echo News the Pickering Brook townsite urban expansion was under assessment but did not give further detail as to why it remained incomplete.

“A proposed metropolitan region scheme amendment to rezone approximately 14ha of land for the potential urban expansion of Pickering Brook is under assessment,” they said.

The City of Kalamunda mayor Margaret Thomas said the City of Kalamunda requested the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) in 2021 to rezone 14ha of land from rural to urban for townsite expansion.

“In March 2021, (City of Kalamunda) requested the Western Australian Planning Commission proceed with an amendment to the metropolitan region scheme to rezone approximately 14ha of land from rural to urban to facilitate the Pickering Brook townsite expansion,” she said.

“The metropolitan region scheme amendment is currently being assessed by the DPLH.

“The city understands that an area of focus for this assessment is the consideration of bushfire risk, and water resources associated with soil and land capability for the development.

“An updated timeline on the progression of the metropolitan region scheme amendment has not been provided in relation to the DPLH’s assessment.

“Representations are being made to obtain further clarity of the schedule of consideration by the WAPC.”

In October last year, Planning Minister John Carey highlighted the double standard of hurrying the Pickering Brook extension while supporting the ongoing assessment of the Stoneville development despite bushfire risks being present in both and advised patience as reported in John Carey says WAPC independence must be respected (Echo News, November 29, 2024).

On October 24, 2024, Agricultural Region MLC Martin Aldridge asked how many times the Pickering Brook townsite expansion project task force had met since its creation.

South West Region MLC Jackie Jarvis responded to the questions representing the Minister for Planning John Carey.

“The taskforce has met four times – in September 2020, February 2022, November 2023 and April 2024,” Ms Jarvis said.