NO COMPLACENCY IN FIRE SEASON

Last Thursday’s headline says it all. Emergency Minister Reece Whitby MLA warns of a ‘horror bushfire season’, revealing WA is spending ‘record amounts to mitigate bushfire risk.’ Everyone must have a Bushfire Plan, he says. We agree 100%. But what about the Govt’s Bushfire Plan? Is it consistent - or complacent, with the reality we face?

Last Tuesday the Govt’s own Planning Committee (SPC), considered approving 56 houses in Parkerville, on land adjoining $atterley and the Anglican Church’s (currently rejected), dangerous and destructive North $toneville. Save Perth Hills has revealed to this Committee, the plan’s: - DODGY Map (see earlier post) - DODGY BAL Ratings, based on... - DODGY Slope Estimates - OUT OF DATE 30-METRE Clutterbuck Creek Setback and; - INADEQUATE ESCAPE for 240 EXTRA people

More than 100 locals, Mundaring Shire Council, Stoneville and Parkerville Ratepayers’ Association (SPPA) and Save Perth Hills, OPPOSE this plan that will INCREASE, not MITIGATE, bushfire risks.

Minutes before last Tuesday’s meeting, Save Perth Hills urgently informed the Committee of SEVERE BUSHFIRE CONDITIONS developing. Then, as the Committee deliberated, Chittering came under serious bushfire threat (a housing development is on the table over there, BTW) The next day, Margaret River region erupted in bushfire that’s still burning. We’ve URGED the Committee to DEFER their decision at least until Wooroloo’s Bushfire Inquiry is released (any day now). Our point is: ...the Govt spends TAXPAYERS’ millions to ‘MITIGATE RISK’ then tasks its own Planning Chiefs to consider INCREASING RISK by approving more houses, for more people in regions more at risk than ever, of bushfire catastrophes. Had Chittering’s fire escalated to a Wooroloo scale - while Margaret River burned, our limited firefighting resources - stretched over 360kms, could NOT have saved both regions.

There’s no room for complacency - on ANY level. We ALL need a bushfire plan - including our Govt. The Govt’s plan MUST be to PLAN DIFFERENTLY in Perth’s Hills. The Govt must approve ONLY what we can defend... including what to do in CONCURRENT bushfire emergencies.

We find out next week if the Committee has the courage to DEFER this flawed Parkerville plan - and demonstrate a Govt commitment to put lives ahead of irresponsible planning. Because THAT would be a Govt Bushfire Plan worth having...

Celebrating Community Awards

Celebrating Save Perth Hills was recognised on Sunday at the Shire of Mundaring 2021 Celebrating Community Awards!

Thank you Matt Swinbourn MLC for sharing this! And thank you for jumping in on the photo. To those who don't know, Matt is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General; Minister for Electoral Affairs and the Member for the East Metro Region. Matt tabled our petition to Parliament of over 3,200 signatures, calling on the government to press PAUSE on development plans in the Perth Hills pending the outcome of the Wooroloo Bushfire inquiry. That petition was handed over on the steps of Parliament House back in June. We thank Matt for his support.

AND to Councillor Paige McNeil, the Shire of Mundaring Deputy President, who read the Award nomination and has been a pillar of support and strength in our work over the years!

To be recognised as an inspirational group for our contribution to the local community has us all humbled but also a little proud. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers who were recognised today - what a community we have!

But, the show rolls on.... We’re going to be submitting written deputations to the Planning Commission for Tuesday 7th Dec regarding SP79 (See previous post)… As always we’ll keep you in the loop as we learn more!

Over 10,000

Crikey! Over 10,000!

That's the reach our last Facebook post had regarding the mapping errors by the Planning Dept on Proposed Structure Plan 79 (next door to Nth $toneville).

Your Save Perth Hills team has always been focused on ensuring accuracy and accountability. Imagine making planning decisions based on incorrect data - it makes us wonder - what if we hadn't been there to notice.

Thank you to all of you tuning in, donating, liking, sharing, commenting and continuing to support.... 10,000+ tells us you are there listening and on this journey with us

Never before has our catch cry, "Once it's gone, it's gone!" been more true... stay tuned folks.... more coming...