The City of Kalamunda has initiated a formal review into its administrative decision-making processes after councillors voted unanimously at the August 25 ordinary council meeting to investigate how planning delegations permitted the removal of protected trees.

The debate came to a head in July when a decision to clear vegetation from a Wattle Grove property was approved through delegated authority without going to council for a decision as reported in Calls for transparency after Wattle Grove tree removal.

Responding to concerns over the Lewis Road approval, councillor David Modolo presented a motion requesting a full account into how the amended landscaping plan was processed.

The motion directed the chief executive officer to present a report, detailing the precise statutory authority, delegated power, and administrative rational used to allow the tree clearing.

It also called for an audit into delegated decisions involving vegetation removal over the preceding three years to determine how frequently similar approvals have occurred.

Councillor Modolo emphasised that council must fully understand the current administrative and statutory process before considering any formal changes to its planning delegation.

“I think the deputation by Mr Sinclair raised questions about the exact way this decision was made,” he said.

“Rather than try and impose council into the decision-making process, I think the first step is for council to understand exactly the circumstances under which that decision was made.

Fight for Wattle Grove spokesperson Kim Sinclair welcomed the move, noting that investigating the specific breakdown in process was a vital step forward.

“The changes we were pushing for were most likely not going to get adopted by council, for fear it would add more roadblocks for developers,” he said.

“However, the approach that’s been taken by council, to look into why and how this occurred is useful to make it really obvious how this happened.”

Mr Sinclair said the group recognised the practical realities facing local planning, but advocates for the need for careful community consideration.

“We recognise that developers need certainty and that removing processes like delegated authority could slow down the administrative process,” he said.

“But we also want developers to take their time and think things through, and that the communities’ concerns are recognised and listened to.

“Modolo’s motion makes it clear he is on our side here; to make the problem obvious so council just can’t ignore it.

“We are looking forward to seeing what this future report will identify, so meaningful changes that support developers and the community can be made.”

The report outlining the decision-making process is expected to go before council later this year.