City of Mandurah councillors have moved forward on plans to close unmade road reserves in the Yalgorup National Park.
The roads were never constructed or used by the public and, after several large parcels of land were amalgamated into the Yalgorup National Park, they’re no longer required.
The road reserves are situated adjacent to Lake Clifton and surrounding lakes.
Councillors unanimously supported the decision at their council meeting on January 30.
The issue first arose in February 2017, when the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions approached the City and urged them to support road closures.
City of Mandurah executives then worked to supply council with recommendations bring the request to fruition.
The first was the requirement for council to contact Lands Minster Rita Saffioti and request she approve the proposed closures.
Similarly the first, the second recommendation was to ask for approve – this time from the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions to support the inclusion of the closed road land into the national park.
Lastly councillors endorsed the recommendation to acknowledge that all costs associated with the closure would be borne by the Department.
Read more:
The expansion of the park was announced on January 12 and will see 1001 hectares of land, that was an offset of the Roe 8 project, included in the iconic and internationally recognised park.
While the State Government’s plans to expand the Yalgorup National Park was welcomed by various parties the Shire of Waroona stressed concerns for concept.
The Shire indicated their concerns over emergency access to the small coastal community of Preston Beach.
In a document presented to council the shire stated the decisions to close the roads would compromise the potential to establish a formalised secondary access to and from the township.
The officer report from the Shire stated that it would be premature to close the only road reserve which would provide access to township from the north, given the Preston Beach Townsite Strategy is yet to decide on an alternative secondary option.
“The closure of the roads would not result in the loss of primary access to any privately owned properties,” the report stated.
“However, closure of the road reserves would impede the potential for secondary access should Preston Beach develop further in the future.
“The Preston Beach Townsite Strategy has not progressed to date and the potential for constructing an access to the south towards Myalup remains an alternative secondary egress option.
“Regardless, the draft nature of the strategy means that revisions, including the reconsideration of access to the north (Mandurah), could potentially occur prior to further progression of the Strategy.
“It is not considered appropriate to close these roads while the future of the further development of the townsite remains unclear.”
The Shire wasn’t the only body concerned about the amalgamation of several large parcels of land, with local resident and spokesperson for Gasfield Free Peel Barb Brewerton.
Ms Brewerton, on behalf of the community action group against gas exploration and production in the region, voiced deep seeded worries that the area could be turned into a gasfield.
“A gas lease covers the vast majority of Yalgorup National Park,” Ms Brewerton said.
“We would like the area declared off limits to the gas industry through the cancellation of Exploration Lease 480. At the very least the park should be excised from the lease.”
It’s still unclear what works will take place and what the timeline will be for them.
For more information visit the City of Mandurah’s website and view their latest council minutes.
