22 October 2007

The Greater Bunbury region scheme (GBRS), tabled in Parliament on 17 October, and  expected to come into effect on 28 November, will ensure that development in the region  will occur in an orderly and sustainable fashion into the future.

The region is expected to be home to more than 100 000 people by 2031, and covers the  City of Bunbury and the Shires of Harvey, Dardanup and Capel, from Peppermint Grove  Beach in the south, inland to the Darling Scarp and  as far north as Lake Preston.

The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Alannah MacTiernan, said the GBRS would ensure  the inevitable pressure on land use would be managed long term, so key environmental features  were conserved.

The GBRS takes into consideration a range of future needs including roads, public open space, residential, commercial and industrial land, water catchment areas, public utilities, regional parks and port facilities.  Local planning schemes will provide more detailed information.

Under the scheme the Kemerton industrial park will be expanded by 955 ha with the buffer area designated as a special control area and land reserved to improve the road system throughout the greater Bunbury region.

Land required for the proposed Bunbury Outer Ring Road, Bunbury port access road, and Boyanup Bypass will be reserved, with landowners offered market prices for their holdings.

A special control area will be designated to protect surface water catchment areas for the Harvey, Brunswick and Wellington dams.

The Ocean to Preston regional park - an area of more than 720 ha that includes the Maidens bushland, Shearwater Tuart Forest, College Grove, Manea Park and extensive sections of the Preston River - will be created.

About 840 ha of land will be zoned urban deferred at Dalyellup, East Australind, Boyanup and Capel, with a view to this being zoned urban and subdivided into residential lots subject to further planning and assessment.

The scheme also safeguards land for recreational activities and to protect unique landscapes.

Ends