Hamelin Bay lime pit plan axed by Regional Development Assessment Panel
A lime pit near Hamelin Bay has failed to garner support from the peak Perth-based development assessment panel, with the local government previously recommending the project’s halt.
WA’s Regional Development Assessment Panel last week backed the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River’s recommendation to refuse the quarry off Caves Road near the region’s iconic Hamelin Bay.
In comments made during the meeting earlier this month, presiding member Karen Hyde said looking at their policy showed while extractive industries could be considered in the rural zone, the shire’s objections to the proposal had merit.
“In terms of visual management, but also in terms of the potential impact on amenity for nearby residential development and the potential impact for the tourism economy in this area, I find that this is . . . not an appropriate location for this activity,” she said.
“There are some significant shortcomings . . . particularly of the visual modelling, but also the traffic analysis, which lacks a level of currency.”
Ms Hyde said some of the applicant’s supporting documentation failed to provide certainty, and question marks around whether the proposal could still be “elevated” to the point it required Environmental Protection Authority consideration were a further stumbling block.
“Much of that information would be vital to us as decision-makers,” she said.
“And in that respect, that lack of information, I don’t think it can be adequately conditioned.”
Crs Greg Boland and David Binks represented the shire, with the local government’s rejection of the proposal unanimous.
Cr Boland noted the proposal clashed with the focus on agriculture in the shire’s Local Planning Scheme as well as State policies pertaining to the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge.
“Is this proposal something that’s compatible? It just doesn’t seem to be, on a number of grounds,” Cr Boland said.
Shire president Julia Meldrum welcomed the RDAP ruling, saying it represented “a victory for local voices and environmental stewardship”.
“While the final decision was out of council’s control, it was important to our community and to council that we had a strong voice in this decision, so I’m very pleased with the outcome,” she said.
“Our community knows intrinsically that the land west of Caves Road between Cape Naturaliste in the north and Cape Leeuwin in the south is special, and the depth of their concern was evident in the 275 submissions of objection we received during the public consultation period.
“I am therefore delighted that council’s objection, and the concerns of the community have been upheld by the RDAP.”
Objecting residents were invited to attend the live-streamed meeting at the shire’s headquarters in a show of solidarity with residents who feared not just significant environmental consequences, but increased road safety risks and damage to the tourism appeal of the area renowned as a major drawcard.
Affected neighbour Charles Johnson was among those who spoke against the item despite acknowledging the project was a discretionary use offering a much-needed resource.
Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association chair Stuart Hicks said Caves Road and tourism were vitally connected and the proposal – at a “keystone visitor point” – risked damaging the wider sector.
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