Welshpool Road East: Gum Trees (Wattle Grove)

Consultation has concluded

Category welshpool-rd   Show all

• Community Update: 19 October 2017

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  Publish Date: 19 October 2017
  
  CEO Rhonda Hardy said, “The City has been working closely with the developer to find a workable solution.”

  “We are awaiting the redesigned slip lane to be submitted.”

  “Once this is provided we will engage with the community on the revised solution and make a recommendation to Council.”

  “I would like to thank all of the community members who have shared their thoughts on the proposal, putting forward potential solutions, and encouraging discussion to date.”

  “We will continue to keep the community informed of further progress, as well as opportunities to provide their thoughts once the redesigned slip lane is submitted.”

  Media Release link: www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/Media-Releases/October-2017/Welshpool-Road-Trees-Community-Update19-10

• Community Update: 4 October 2017

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  Published on 4 October 2017
  

  The City of Kalamunda, together with Main Roads WA representatives, and the Developers from the St. Peter Jacobite Syrian Church group put their heads together today to look at solutions as to how the trees can be saved and road access still given to the church group at 831 Welshpool Road in Wattle Grove.

  CEO Rhonda Hardy said “The meeting was very positive with all in attendance recognising the critical imperative to protect the trees.”

  “Several ideas and options were floated with further investigations being undertaken in regards to the feasibility of these options. We are hopeful a new design could be approved, which would protect trees.”

  “Design engineers have been asked to redesign the slip lane by cribbing into the outside lane by 0.5m. The slight reduction in the width of the inside RAV 4 lane would give the designers the scope to shift the slip lane away from the major trees. We are working with Main Roads Heavy Vehicle experts to confirm if this is possible.”

  The bus embayment is also a problem causing the slip lane to be longer. The City and the Developer will meet with the PTA to request removal the bus embayment which will again assist in saving trees. The bus stop has very limited usage.

  A road safety audit will also be undertaken based upon these new design ideas to ensure safety is not compromised. This may lead to a requirement to reduce the speed on Welshpool Road down to 70kph. The Council will need to resolve to request Main Roads to reduce the speed limit.

  The City is encouraging community members to:

  1. Support the removal of the bus embayment
     
     
  2. Support reduction of the inside lane and the slip lane to be overlapped therefore reducing the total road width by 0.5m.
     
     
  3. Support the reduction of the Welshpool Road to a 70km speed zone.

  The City will continue to keep Community members updated regarding progress on the issue.

  Media Release link: http://www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/Media-Releases/October-2017/Protecting-the-Trees-on-Welshpool-Road-Community-Update
  

• Community Update: 27 September 2017

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  Published on 27 September 2017
  

  The City of Kalamunda last night reaffirmed its commitment to working with the developer and community to find a solution.

  Mayor Andrew Waddell reiterated the Councils position confirming City staff have also spoken with the developer who advised they were open to considering alternative solutions.

  “We are calling on the developer to enter into negotiations with adjoining land owners.”

  “We are also inviting the developer to meet with staff to discuss potential solutions, and to submit a revised Development Application if they have any other access options they would like considered.”

  Last night, during urgent business approved by the presiding member or by discussion council unanimously passed a motion in relation to Lot 36 Welshpool Road that Council:

  1. Request the CEO to continue negotiation with the Main Roads and the Applicant, of the proposed development at Lot 36 Welshpool Road, to seek an alternative option to those outlined in Condition n) of City of Kalamunda Planning Approval (OCM 184/2016) of November 2016.
  2. Encourage the applicant to resubmit a development application for Council consideration.
  3. Require the CEO to forbid any employee or staff member of the City of Kalamunda from removing, or assisting in the removal, or entering into a contract for the removal of any lemon scented gum trees in front of or adjacent to Lot 36 Welshpool Road other than for an emergency, or as subsequently approved in writing by the City.

  The motion followed numerous questions form community and a deputation relating to the trees.

  The City will continue to keep Community members updated regarding progress on the issue.

  Media Release link: http://www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/Media-Releases/September-2017/Welshpool-Rd-East-Gum-Trees-update27-9
  

• Community Update: 22 September 2017

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  Published on 22 September 2017
  

  The City of Kalamunda has been in discussions with the developer, community members and Main Roads regarding 10 - 13 Gum Trees, proposed to be removed for the St Peters Jacobite Syrian Church to construct a slip lane, on Welshpool Road East.

  Mayor Andrew Waddell, attended a public meeting regarding this matter on Monday 18 September. The Mayor requested staff to contact Main Roads to discuss potential options, following community concern regarding the removal of the trees.

  Main Roads officers met with City of Kalamunda officers on Thursday to further discuss access to the new development.

  Both Main Roads and the City agree that a slip lane is necessary in the interests of road safety, if access is to come off Welshpool Road East.

  Mayor Waddell said: “Main Roads statistics indicate there have been 127 crashes on Welshpool Road East between Boundary Road and Crystal Brook Road on the last ten years, which resulted in five fatalities.

  “Following this the City installed wire rope barriers on the southern carriageway in accordance with a national BlackSpot Project which received 100% Federal Government funding. These works were completed in June 2016.

  “City staff have also spoken with the developer who advised they were open to considering alternative solutions.

  “At this stage the only solution would be for the developer to seek access from another landowner.”

  “We are now calling on the developer to enter into negotiations with adjoining land owners if they do want to save the trees.

  “The developer is advising this is cost prohibitive.”

  “It is extremely disappointing that they seem to be putting costs over community safety and the trees.”

  “If the developer wished to retain the trees they must consider access other than from Welshpool Road East.”

  “This is about saving lives. We cannot allow another entry point from Welshpool Road East without controls, as it is not safe.”

  “If the developer goes ahead with the approval and creates the slip lane council has required them to replant new trees for any they remove.”

  The City has already considered the constraints the existing trees pose in this area and have reduced the length of the combined left turn pocket and bus embayment to minimise the impact on the existing trees in this area and still meet Austroads standards. This was the option approved in November 2016.

  Ten trees will need to be removed to construct the slip lane if the developer wishes to have access onto Welshpool Road East.

  There are more than 800 trees along that stretch of Welshpool Road East, with 169 Scented Gums.

  If the developer chooses to proceed with access to the site from Welshpool Road East the 10 lemon scented gums represent 6% of that species and less than 1.2% of the total number of trees on the street.

  The developer is also required to submit a landscaping plan, and could replace the lemon scented gums next to the slip lane if they proceed as planned.

  Media Release link: http://www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/Media-Releases/September-2017/Welshpool-Rd-East-Gum-Trees-update
  

• Proposed Place of Worship Welshpool Road East

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  Published on 15 September 2017
  

  In response to a number of community enquiries, the City of Kalamunda can confirm a Development Application for a proposed place of worship (church) was granted planning approval by Council in November 2016.

  The land at Lot 36 (831) is owned by St Peters Jacobite Syrian Church Perth Inc.

  Council also approved several conditions to be imposed on the development site. Many of the conditions relate to lighting, bushfire management, vegetation and landscaping, road modifications, parking and required building permits.

  The application was advertised for 28 days with letters sent to adjoining property owners.

  The application was also sent to the Department of Planning, Main Roads and the Public Transport Authority. Nine submissions were received.

  Tree removal arising from the development is necessary to ensure the safety of vehicles on Welshpool Road East.

  A number of options were investigated to try to prevent the removal of the trees, however the road safety was considered a higher priority.

  All tree removals and road works are being arranged by the developer for the site, and due to begin on 2 October. The City’s staff are monitoring the work.

  From 11 to 29 September the City will be undertaking pruning of some other trees in the area to manage the impacts of the other trees being removed..

  A majority of mature vegetation is to be retained on the subject site and City requires a landscaping plan be submitted, approved and installed prior to occupation of the place of worship building.

  Following completion of the road works, the developer is also required to plant replacement trees in different locations at the City's direction.

  A copy of the Council Meeting Minutes for 14 November 2016 are available in the City’s website at http://www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/About-Us/Agenda-Minutes

  Background

  On 10 June 2015, the Minister for Planning approved Scheme Amendment No. 61 which included the additional use of Place of Worship under Schedule 2 of the Scheme. The additional use is conditional on the applicant/landowner preparing and implementing a traffic management plan.

  The subject site has frontage of 115m to Welshpool Rd East. The surrounding area is zoned Special Rural and Rural Composite. The lot and neighbouring lots are currently vacant.

  Media Release link: http://www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/Media-Releases/September-2017/Proposed-Place-of-Worship-Welshpool-Rd-East