Annual electors’ meeting hears concerns about reforms to Shire of Augusta-Margaret River planning scheme

One of the strongest turnouts in years to last week’s Shire of Augusta-Margaret River’s electors’ meeting had concerns around the local government’s draft Local Planning Scheme 2 front and centre.

Residents representing communities from Augusta, Scott River, Witchcliffe and Cowaramup as well as coastal activists packed Shire offices on Wednesday where motions were passed focused on changes to agricultural zoning.

The shire’s new planning scheme, which remains subject to public consultation until the end of February, had already made news for concerns around proposed changes from the existing scheme.

Concerns were heightened last month after Surfrider won acknowledgement of a zoning error in the scheme maps pertaining to land adjacent to the contentious Gnarabup resort project.

Three motions passed on Wednesday called for the Lower South West Grower Group to be recognised as the key farming stakeholder, for the “priority agriculture” zoning classification to remain in place, and for the shire to develop an agriculture-specific policy.

Witchcliffe Community Association president Todd Giles, also representing farmers at the meeting, said rural land owners were worried changes would make farming harder in the face of a push for even greater controls.

Mr Giles also said many were confused whether the changes shown in LPS2 were coming from the local government or the WA Planning Commission.

“(We are) led to believe priority agriculture overrules environmental conservation, but the alarm bell here is environmental conservation overrules rural zoning,” Mr Giles said.

“Nannup farmers rejected the change from priority agricultural to rural through their submission process.

“If Augusta-Margaret River shire farmers wish to retain priority agricultural, we suggest you submit a submission quoting that we do not want this zoning change.”

Mr Giles and others also cited the lack of a light industrial area for Witchcliffe and a desire to see extra housing permitted on farmland to support workers and their families as key concerns.

Former shire president Pam Townshend said she and the Margaret River Regional Environment Centre were examining the proposed scheme changes closely.

She said she was rebuffed in a request for tracked changes between LPS2 and the existing scheme.

Shire president Julia Meldrum said the local government was not releasing old information during the consultation process.

“The circulation of all these documents could easily create uncertainty and misunderstanding,” she said.

“We’re dedicated to open and candid discussion about this scheme, and welcome the opportunity to meet with anyone who’s keen to discuss (it).”

Rural ratepayer Mark Murray told the Times he attended the meeting due to concerns the role of farmers was not adequately considered in the draft scheme.

He applauded the motions tabled at the electors’ meeting.

“I see it as incredibly important that the shire has been reminded by its farmers about the importance of agriculture and our desire to see it significantly and more clearly recognised in the LPS draft,” he said.

The Times understands some farmers and community groups had hired their own lawyers and planning consultants to finalise submissions before consultation ends on February 28.

The shire has previously told the Times many of the draft changes result from the WAPC’s new model scheme text and did not affect the bulk of existing permissions.