A Canning-based environmental group has raised concerns about a planned eight-storey Adventist Residential Care apartment complex near Rossmoyne’s Yagan Wetland Reserve.
Canning River Residents Environment Protection Association (CRREPA) president Stephen Johnston said while the group wasn’t opposed to the development itself, it was concerned about its construction and the impact on the Yagan Wetland less than 50 metres away.
The development application for the 86-unit project is currently before the Central Joint Development Assessment Panel with a decision expected by mid August.
The site is already home to a 77-home Adventist Residential Care village.
Mr Johnston said things like site drainage could damage the wetland and infill could bring diseases such as dieback.
He also said there was a potential for the wetlands being exposed to acid sulphate soil during earthworks.
“The potential adverse impacts could be on the flora and therefore the fauna of the reserve, but also on the water quality of Bull Creek very close to its mouth with the Canning River,” he said.
“Bull Creek is a very significant semi-natural stream flowing into the Canning from the 11-square kilometre Bull Creek catchment area.
Mr Johnston said the project needed environmental controls to be rigorously implemented and monitored.
“The controls need to be thoroughly understood and applied by all people involved in the construction and future management, from the project manager down to the contractors, sub-contractors and their employees,” he said.
“It’s got to go all the way down to the guy who’s driving the bobcat.”
City of Canning chief executive Arthur Kyron said the applicant was aware of its requirement to protect the wetland.
“The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) has required the applicant to provide detail on the volume of earthworks required for the development, stormwater management, dewatering and acid sulphate soils,” he said.
“Should the application be approved, DPaW and the Department of Water have requested a number of conditions that require the applicant to undertake monitoring and further reporting as they go through the detailed design stage.
“It is expected that conditions relating to species selection will be imposed on the application should it be approved.”
Responding to traffic concerns by other community groups, Mr Kyron said the city was of the view there was no link that could be drawn between the additional traffic generated by the development and a requirement for a Webb Street intersection upgrade by the developer.
“The city in conjunction with Main Roads WA will be looking at improving the intersection capacity and functionality of Webb Street and Leach Highway,” he said.
“This work will be completed in conjunction with other works currently occurring on Leach Highway and monitored over an extended period.”
Adventist Residential Care was contacted for comment but did not respond.
