‘LOCALS TRIUMPH IN EPIC BATTLE!’

We LOVE that headline – front page of this week’s ‘Post’ newspaper. After a 20-year Community battle, University of WA has withdrawn plans to bulldoze Shenton Park bushland for 260 houses. It’s a timely reminder that correct decisions CAN be made, and that local Communities CAN drive them. No matter how long it takes!! Two weeks today, on Nov 4, a significant decision will be made about our own 31-year saga called ‘North Stoneville.’ We call on ‘North $toneville’ landowner, the Anglican Diocese, and its business partner, $atterley, to follow UWA’s lead – and withdraw their ‘North $toneville’ plan that will endanger thousands of people and destroy 550-hectares of Hills’ environment. Save Perth Hills congratulates Friends of Underwood Avenue Bushland in never giving up to protect an important pocket of Perth’s diminishing bushland. And we remind $atterley and the Anglican Diocese – our Community commitment, to protect our lives and the Hills’ environment, remains a strong as ever – 31 years on...

https://postnewspapers.com.au/.../10/22102022-lowres.pdf

Climate Change -affects everyone

You might recall that the Perth’s Anglican Diocese – the Church’s business arm - is the landowner for proposed North $toneville... On Nov 4 the Diocese could withdraw its dangerous and destructive housing plan because it’s never going to work. Or, ...their business partner Satterley could seek an expensive taxpayer-funded Appeal to drag into 2023.

While this goes on, the Anglicans’ top clergyman, the Archbishop of Canterbury, described as ‘active and vocal on climate change’, has been in Australia. Last Friday he visited NSW’s Lismore, a town decimated recently by multiple floods. The Archbishop is quoted saying: “Seeing the devastation… brings it home. Let alone what it will be in a few years.” He adds - ‘Climate change – affects everyone.’ What part of Climate Change doesn’t the Perth Diocese understand? Building homes for 4000 people and adding two schools inside an Extreme Bushfire Zone makes no sense in this day and age... With climate change such an acute topic, clearing 1 hectare is unpalatable enough, let alone 550 hectares!

Take a read of the Archbishop’s Lismore visit – and hope, or pray, that the Perth Anglican Diocese reads it too...

‘It brings it home’: Archbishop of Canterbury highlights climate crisis in Australia with visit to Lismore | NSW and Queensland floods 2022 | The Guardian

Bushfire Recommendations

For 31 years SPH has refused to accept the unacceptable - and we continue to do so... We have always maintained that homes for 4000 people should not be built in an area considered by DFES to be an extreme fire risk zone..... ...Yet here we are STILL having the conversation....

Earlier this year, this Perth Hills community eagerly awaited the release of the independent review into the 2021 Wooroloo bushfire... One of the 13 recommendations asked for DFES advice to be followed and have more say when it comes to planning - this advice was not taken up by the State Government... WHY?

The DFES Commissioner is well-placed to provide safer standards for planning in fire prone areas. As it stands, DFES advice can be 'noted' but not enforced.

That. MUST. Change.

As we head towards the warmer months - this article by WAtoday.com.au is a reminder of the issue and why better standards will be safer for all.

Tomorrow, we will be launching our petition on the State Government to reconsider its position. Stay tuned!

https://www.watoday.com.au/.../wa-government-denies-fire...