Shire seeks WAPC backing over illegal clearing

A MOTION to withdraw planning approval for an illegally clear-felled subdivision was withdrawn because it was unlikely to succeed.
Shire president Ross Thornton withdrew his motion seeking full withdrawal of planning approval for the Smith Street subdivision after Department of Planning officers advised it was highly unlikely to succeed.
But at the June 22 meeting councillors unanimously resolved to advise WA Planning Commission that it could not clear condition 28 of the approval.
This stipulates the protection of all existing remnant vegetation on the 6.6ha lot in consultation with the Department of Environment and Conservation before the beginning of site works.
The council will request WAPC to ‘utilise all its legislative power’ to ensure the development only proceeds if the council is satisfied with ‘an outcome beneficial to the amenity of the subdivision and locality’.
The council will also seek an ‘urgent joint deputation’ with the Minister for Planning John Day and Minister for Environment Donna Faragher to express concern about the apparent inadequacy of the legislation and penalties for such actions.
Cr Thornton described the motion as providing the ‘best outcome we can hope for’.
The cleared area was to be public open space and the remains of a soon to be heritage listed dairy were also destroyed.
The $4.9 million property is owned by Jamber Holdings Pty Ltd.
It is being marketed by Browne Grove and Associates of Claremont but has been removed from their website.

Surfer Flung by shark

A LONG surf board saved a Walpole man's leg from being severed when a 4m white pointer shark bit his leg in a terrifying attack on June 6 at Conspicuous Cliffs.
Beachgoers pitched in to save the life of Mick Bedford, 41, hauling him along the beach on his surfboard and up 300 steps of the cliff face to await an ambulance in the carpark.
Mick, who has surfed for 30 years, was on his 3m board when the shark circled him and surfaced, whacking him from the board and biting his leg.
The shark knocked him in the air, flinging him backwards about 2m so he landed on top of it.
In a terrifying scramble over the shark's body Mick climbed back on his upside-down board.
"At this point I started to freak out," Mick said.
"I saw a wave coming and paddled towards it to catch it but because my surfboard was upside-down I nose-dived and landed about 3m from the board.
"By then I was in the white water and swam over to the board and with it the right -way up caught a wave which dumped me on the shoreline break."
Mick's friend Lee Cummuskey had seen the attack from the shore and helped Mick out of the surf.
While trying to get to shore Mick held the wound together with his hand.
Lee and a woman, Sam Jones, who have first aid training, used Mick's leg rope, a shirt and towels to bind the leg to stem the bleeding.
Mick's shredded wetsuit was not removed and helped bind the leg.
Department of Environment and Conservation worker Mick, who also has first aid training, focused on breathing when his body lapsed into shock.
Another woman ran up the 300m cliffs to the look-out tower so she could get reception on her mobile phone to call an ambulance.
A group of 6-8 men lifted Mick along the beach, using his surfboard as a stretcher.
When they reached a creek at the board walk approach they floated him on the surf-board until the water was chest high and they hauled him up the steps to the carpark.
"It was a mammoth effort," Mick said.
"I could hear them puffing with the heavy load and all the time they were very encouraging to me, telling me help was on the way."
An ambulance took Mick to Denmark Hospital before he was treated for his wounds at Albany Regional Hospital.
Mick's leg was stitched with 50 stitches alone in a 'main gash'.
There are other internal and external wounds which were extensively stitched.
In case of future emergencies, Mick would like to see signs erected along beaches indicating where mobile phone coverage is possible.
Signs at Conspicuous Cliffs should indicate reception can only be gained from the look-out tower.
Mick's wife, Liz, said other signs at the popular but hazardous beach were overgrown with vegetation.
These needed to be fully exposed as recently a friend had 'got into trouble' while in the water at the beach.
Mick hopes for a full recovery and to be surfing again soon.
He began using the long board after a 2.5m shark circled him while surfing about five years ago.
"All my friends pay me out for having a big surf board," Mick said.
"But this time it saved my life and my leg."
Mick hopes to be back at work on light duties in a couple of weeks.
Although teeth marks from the shark's lower jaw mark the board it is 'fixable'.
"I love surfing so I will try it again," Mick said.
"But I'll go out when there's a good crowd around."

Bus-stop moved to Hollings Road

THE TransWA bus-stop has been moved from Strickland Street to Hollings Road outside Chooks.
The Denmark Shire Council had considered moving it to the Denmark Visitors Centre but faced resistance from TransWA staff and others in the community who said it was too far from the town centre.
The Denmark Tourism Inc. board, the Denmark Over 50s Association, and resident John Schindler believed elderly travellers would be particularly disadvantaged.
They said passengers should arrive in a safe, well-lit area within easy walking distance of shops, services and accommodation, with after-hours access to a phone and toilets.
TransWA drivers had concerns about turning left onto Ocean Beach Road but shire director of infrastructure Rob Whooley believed this could have been fixed by a minor widening of the driveway.
DTI's board supported the Hollings Road location if the Strickland Street option was not viable.
Mr Whooley said one of the aims of in the Strickland Street re-development was to discourage large vehicles.
As well as widening footpaths there will be a central bed of trees.
TransWA had initially rejected the Hollings Road site but agreed to the new position after visiting the site.
Mr Whooley believed this was a better outcome than the alternative of digging a new bus shelter into the slope outside the Denmark Arts office on Strickland Street.

Water infrastructure upgrade

AN $18.3 MILLION water tank, pipeline and pumping stations will be installed in Denmark by October.
Water Corporation acting regional business manager David Juers said the infrastructure would include a 15 million litre water storage tank, three times the capacity of the Horsley Road reservoir.
This would enable the corporation to better manage the town's water demands during peak summer periods.
About 60 per cent of the 2.4km pipeline is already laid and within the next two weeks it will be joined into pipework in Smith Street.
The pipeline is on target to be completed by the end of August, with pump station works and other mechanical and electrical works to be finalised by the end of October.
Georgiou Group, the contractor responsible for the new water tank, was due to pour the concrete foundation this month, with pre-cast walls to follow.
Mr Juers said residents in the vicinity of the tank would benefit from upgrades to a section of McLean Road which needed to be widened to deal with construction traffic.
"After extensive consultation with local residents, Georgiou was able to propose an alternative alignment of McLean Road which saved large karri trees from being removed," he said.

Reports calls for old pine to go

AN arborist's report to Denmark Shire Council's Old Hospital Working Group has recommended the urgent removal of 11 hazardous old pine trees from the Hollings Road site.
This does not include the large Norfolk pine peace tree which was planted after World War I and is on the council's Municipal Heritage Inventory.
The report also recommends removal within the next six to 12 months of 36 other trees - mostly pines in the north-east and south-east zones of the block which are deteriorating with age and are potentially hazardous.
Pinus radiata is classed a pest by the WA Department of Agriculture and other natural resource organisations and therefore considered to be of low conservation value.
On the site, 59 trees are considered high value requiring attention within the next 12 months, 40 of moderate value, and 32 of limited or low value requiring work such as pruning within the next two to three years.
The council will consult with People for Parkland Inc. before implementing the recommendations of the report.
The group originally wanted all trees, including the pines, retained where possible but member Diane Harwood who is also on the Old Hospital Working Group, does not envisage any major objections to the recommendations.
Ms Harwood said the pine trees were becoming straggly and unsafe.
Their removal would also benefit black cockatoos which liked to eat the pine seeds but could not easily digest them.
Ms Harwood supported the removal of some eastern States eucalypts which could invade creek lines.
Management of the old hospital complex was transferred from the Department of Health and vested in the Shire of Denmark last year.
It is planned to adapt the old buildings for use by various community groups.
Mr Juers said the corporation's pipeline construction team would disturb as little vegetation as possible and replant any grassed areas, verge trees and flowerbeds disturbed by the works.
 

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