Text may be used as quotes attributed to Mr Jeremy Dawkins, Chairman WAPC

The WAPC has adopted a policy specifying the manner in which the ultimate size of the settlement at Preston Beach will be determined through strategic planning processes.

On 17 October 2008 the Peel Region Planning Committee of the WAPC concluded a series of investigations and discussions with the Satterley Property Group, Mirvac and FRAGYLE (Friends of Ramsar Action Group for the Yalgorup Lakes Environment Inc).

The WAPC formally declared, firstly, that the future population of Preston Beach will be limited, for the long term, by the constraints and assumptions in the Coastal and Lakelands Planning Strategy (WAPC, 1999).  This policy envisaged that, under those constraints and assumptions, the number of dwellings at Preston Beach will be limited to a total of 1600 dwellings, including existing dwellings.

The WAPC formally declared, secondly, that the ultimate size of Preston Beach may be above or below 1600 dwellings depending on regional priorities and optimal outcomes in relation to a range of issues, including the following specific matters.  The maximum size of the settlement will be determined by establishing the optimal form of development which:

  • achieves material improvements in the quality of surface and groundwater flows into Lake Preston;
  • avoids any further detrimental impacts on any of the lakes or wetlands and Yalgorup National Park and improves the long term biodiversity status of the park;
  • attracts a specific demographic which maintains an economic base for the settlement and minimises long distance commuting;
  • can be satisfactorily served solely by the existing Preston Beach Road as a two-lane, single-carriageway road and its intersection with the Perth Bunbury Highway;
  • can be served by a single neighbourhood or local centre with a maximum net lettable area of 4 500 m2;
  • will be sufficient to support a single primary school without generating the need for an overflow to another primary school in the district;
  • will be defined by a permanent boundary between urban land and land set aside for long term biodiversity conservation.

While the strategic planning for Preston Beach proceeds, the Shire of Waroona's local planning strategy will be completed (showing the Preston Beach townsite as an ’area subject to Preston Beach townsite strategy’) and an environmental policy statement for the coastal areas between Dawesville and Binningup will be prepared by the Environmental Protection Authority Service Unit in conjunction with officers from the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, Department of Water and relevant local governments.

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Media contact: Natasha Farrell (08) 9264 7518 / 0408 955 604