Growing popularity has led the Western Australian coastal Shire of Denmark to develop a Greening Plan, mapping out the local environment and identifying key features to be considered in future development.
With the community placing a high value on its natural environment, coupled with pressure for development in 1998, the Denmark Environment Centre sought Council support for National Heritage Trust funding for the Plan.
This was achieved, with the Trust providing just over half of the $350,000 required for the three year project. The remainder is being provided through voluntary work and by community groups, with Council giving in kind support including the use of a vehicle.
Councillor Alex Syme, who is also one of two part time Project Officers working on the Plan, said the catalyst came when a decision had to be made as to where to locate a new high school. Conflicting opinions over the value of vegetation on one potential site indicated that the community would benefit from having comprehensive, clear, objective information about the local environment.
“Without this Plan we had to rely on information provided by parties who were not necessarily objective in their assessment,” Alex Syme said. “It will save Council, developers and the community a lot of time and conflict when they know exactly what the parameters are before plans for development are drawn up. Under the Denmark Greening Plan all the cards are on the table from the start.”
In the first 12 months of the Plan, an aerial survey of the area has been completed. This is now being entered into a computer program. Councillor Syme said this has already produced spin off benefits, providing a basis for future bushfire management in the district.
In the long run, it will ensure the protection and maintenance of biodiversity, enhance local amenity, assist in the meeting of statutory and other policy requirements and avoid ad hoc approaches to development issues.
The project is proceeding under the auspices of an Advisory Committee comprising 14 representatives from the Shire, conservation groups and government agencies. “This represents the diverse range of views in the community,” Councillor Syme said. “It will be locally owned and locally carried out.”
For further information contact Alex Syme, telephone (08) 9848 1293
