FOMRE Press Statement regarding Minister's approval for development - 10.06.2009

The Friends of Moore River Estuary note with serious concern the announcement by Planning Minister John Day, that Cabinet had approved an urban development on the south side of the estuary. 

This decision appears to override the principles enshrined in the WAPC's Gingin Coast Structure Plan (2006) which designated the area as a “Recreation and Tourist Node Investigation Area”,  earmarked for everyone’s use and enjoyment - a proposal which had the almost unanimous support of the Guilderton community.

It appears now that the present Government is prepared to open up even more of the pristine coast north of Perth to the urban sprawl which has already overwhelmed most of the coast from Perth to Busselton. FOMRE believes that this unique piece of land bounded by the coast and the Moore River is a vital part of the recreational heritage which must be preserved for all future generations of West Australians.

In his parliamentary speech the Minister expressed his concern to give the landowner fair treatment. FOMRE believes in fair treatment for all concerned and regrets that the present government is now caught up in the toils of mistakes made by the previous Coalition government. However, there are other ways of compensating the landowner than that of giving approval to a development, for which West Australians will pay in perpetuity by the loss of this unique recreational resource.

John Prince

Convenor of the Friends of Moore River Estuary.

10^th June, 2009