More than 600 residents attended a “Hands off Hall Park” rally on February 16 to oppose the City of Mandurah’s decision to excise a portion of it for commercial development.
Mandurah Environment and Heritage Group (MEHG) members, along with hundreds of community members, were joined by councillors and representatives from the Libertarians (Ryan Burns), Liberals (Steve Thomas), One Nation and Legalise Cannabis (Sharlene Mavor).
The rally, organised by Friends of Hall Park (FOHP), is the result of residents becoming concerned that council was selling off their public space to the Western Foreshore Development.
Left Coast Leisure Group has been granted a 25-year lease to build a 650-patron pub/restaurant with a microbrewery, mini golf course and chocolate factory along Mandurah’s quiet Western Foreshore.
FOHP is committed to raising awareness by sharing historical information about the park and organising direct action through their Facebook page and in the streets.
“Today we’re here to try and save our park, the A-Class Reserve,” said rally organiser Amanda Gibbs.
“The council has not completed its due diligence, nor has it had meaningful consultation with the Indigenous community, or the family that gifted the land back in 1953.”
Mandurah Council voted on August 27 last year to enter into a “Major Land Transaction” with Left Coast Leisure Group.
Council voted 9 to 4, with Rhys Williams, a former mayor and WA Labor’s candidate for Mandurah, enthusiastically endorsing the proposal.
Ryan Burns (Libertarian candidate for the LC) and independent councillors David Schumacher, Ahmed Zilani and Jacob Cumberworth oppose the development.
A portion of the park, a protected Class A Reserve next to the King’s Carnival, will be replaced by car parks for the restaurant.
However, the council has yet to apply for state permission to excise a portion of the reserve for commercial purposes.
A 30-day public consultation will also have to take place. Lands minister John Carey has yet to start the process.
Dr Steve Thomas, Liberal MLC for the South West, who attended the rally, promised to start a parliamentary petition to halt the Western Foreshore Development.
Protesters want to keep the Western Foreshore as is. “Do they realise what they have here? This is the jewel of Mandurah,” one resident said. “They talk about tourism; people come here for the waterways. It’s very sad.”
MEHG activist Daniela Buters believes about 12 mature trees would be felled as part of the excision. “These trees are about 60–70 years old. Birds migrate all the way from Siberia to these trees. We can’t afford to cut one tree down, unless it’s diseased.”
Meanwhile, about 180 FOHP activists attended the City of Mandurah Annual Electors Meeting on February 10, so many that it was relocated to the Senior’s Centre.
More than 70 questions were asked over two hours, during which it was disclosed by councillors that the environmental assessment, required for the proposed seafloor dredging for a jetty, is yet to happen.
This is despite the Major Land Transaction already having been agreed to.
Council CEO Casey Mihovilovich calculated that 11% of the 39,500 square metre park will be excised.
However, FOHP members, including rally organiser Amanda Giblett, believe that up to 40% could be excised, when the size of car bays are taken into account.
The CEO asserted the community was consulted in 2018 and last year.
However, despite an overwhelming number of objections, only minor amendments were made, such as a 10pm curfew and a promise to consult on local traffic flows in the future.
It became clear to the meeting that council would not be halting the proposal based on how many people objected.
Residents moved two motions at the AGM: to rescind the August vote to proceed with the development, which passed 105/9; and to consult the Binjareb Elders on the use of their ancestral land and act in the best interest of the wider community, which passed 105/5.
Mayor Caroline Knight said council would decide if it supports this motion at its next meeting on February 25.
“If council does decide to rescind its original decision, it would effectively put an end to the Western Foreshore proposal,” she said.
Emboldened by the success of two mass actions, FOHP will continue to pressure councillors and state and federal MPs to halt the excision of public land for commercial use and provide correct information.
FOHP is organising for a big attendance at the February 25 council meeting to ensure the AGM motions are taken seriously.
[To get involved, join Friends of Hall Park community page and email fohallpark@gmail.com.]