$280m Smiths Beach Project Gets Green Light

Smiths Beach Development Gets Green Light: A Blow to Decades-Long Conservation Fight

A significant battle in the ongoing fight to protect Smiths Beach in Yallingup has taken a dramatic turn, with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommending the controversial $280 million development project be approved. This decision comes after a protracted, two-decade-long campaign by locals and conservation groups to preserve the pristine coastal area.

The Adrian Fini-led developer, Smiths 2014 Pty Ltd, first lodged the extensive 42-hectare Smiths Beach Project proposal five years ago. The ambitious plan encompasses a hotel, a wellness centre, 61 holiday homes, a campground, a community hub, and a surf lifesaving club. The EPA formally conveyed its recommendations to the Environment Minister, Matthew Swinbourn, on Tuesday.

This recommendation follows closely on the heels of another significant development approval. Just six days prior, Minister Swinbourn gave the nod to Saracen Properties’ 121-room, five-star Westin resort and residential village located in Gnarabup, a locality south of the Smiths Beach site.

Conflicts of Interest Emerge in EPA Decision-Making

In a notable move, the EPA explicitly stated in its press release that “several members” of the Authority, including its chair Darren Walsh, had declared a conflict of interest concerning the Smiths Beach proposal. These individuals were therefore excluded from any related discussions and decision-making processes.

Darren Walsh’s professional background includes extensive experience in the development sector, having worked with Satterley Property Group. He was also previously associated with JBS&G, the environmental consultancy that prepared the developer’s application to the EPA. The EPA confirmed that board members Jane Bennett, David Caddy, and Hamish Beck also recused themselves from deliberations on the Smiths Beach proposal.

Community Outrage and Long-Standing Concerns

For over twenty years, the Save Smiths Beach Action Group has been at the forefront of local opposition, raising a multitude of concerns. These include the extensive clearing anticipated for the development, the heightened fire risk, the potential impacts of sewage systems on the delicate marine environment, and the use of the State Development Assessment Unit (SDAU) – a mechanism often criticised for fast-tracking approvals.

The project has also faced considerable criticism from the political opposition, forming a key part of an ongoing parliamentary inquiry into the Labor Government’s planning procedures.

David Mitchell, convenor of the Save Smiths Beach Action Group, expressed his deep disappointment, asserting that the EPA appears to have disregarded its own previous rulings. He pointed to a 2009 EPA proposal that had recommended against development on the western half of the proposed site, specifically on the headland.

“There’ll be a very happy group of Western suburbs businessmen today. There’s probably a long lunch being had in Subiaco,” Mitchell told ABC’s Mornings Program, suggesting a disconnect between local sentiment and perceived developer interests. “They have basically regurgitated the developer’s own proposal, and the EPA has capitulated. It’s universal that all the government agencies are against development on the headland on both visual and environmental grounds.”

Conditions and Offset Strategies

The EPA’s recommendation is contingent upon a stringent set of conditions, primarily focused on wastewater management, vegetation clearing, and the provision of fauna habitat offsets.

The proposed offsets, put forward by Fini’s company, include the rehabilitation of critical habitat for the western ringtail possum and black cockatoo at three designated sites within the state government’s land estate.

Further conditions mandate that the developer actively manage weed infestations within the development site and extend this management to an area 50 metres beyond the development envelope, including on Crown land.

An EPA spokeswoman emphasised the importance of maintaining habitat connectivity. “Maintaining habitat connectivity between vegetation in the development envelope and the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is front and centre of the EPA’s conditions,” she stated. “Other measures in the proponent’s conservation significant Fauna Management Plan and Offset Strategy address feral animal control, nearby offset areas, and a community-based revegetation program. And conditions relating to secondary foraging and dispersal habitat for the western ringtail possum contain a requirement for a conservation covenant. This includes establishment costs and long-term management and maintenance costs.”

Developer Welcomes Decision, Promises Sensitivity

A spokeswoman for the Smiths Beach Project expressed enthusiasm for the EPA’s decision, affirming the company’s commitment to adhering to all stipulated conditions.

“Our project team of leading Australian landscape designers and architects have designed the coastal village, including its hotel and community facilities, in a way that is sensitive to the site’s environmental and cultural significance,” she commented. “This brings us closer to realising our project vision of creating a world-class seaside village for the benefit of Western Australia and the South-West – enabling the local community and visitors to this state to share and enjoy the best aspects of our lifestyle and environment.”

Adrian Fini has a history of coastal development in the region, having been instrumental in the creation of the Bunker Bay Resort, located south of Smiths Beach, which opened in 2004. He acquired the Smiths Beach site along with other investors in 2014, initiating a new chapter in the long-running development saga.

A History of Protest and Evolving Proposals

The previous owners’ development proposal also ignited significant community opposition, leading to the formation of the Save Smiths Beach campaign. That earlier endeavour saw the developer become embroiled in a Corruption and Crime Commission investigation, alongside several local councillors, ultimately resulting in a perceived victory for the community. The structure plan under those original owners envisioned up to 500 tourism and residential dwellings, with the western portion of the land designated for a national park.

Fini’s current proposal, while encompassing a broader footprint, aims for less density. He has previously stated that this approach would enhance the amenity of the area and allow for greater preservation of existing vegetation. Notably, in a concession to community concerns about potential environmental impacts, Fini’s company removed a planned ramp to Smiths Beach last year, which critics had likened to a “sea wall.”

Public Appeal Period Looms

The EPA’s recommendation now enters a three-week public appeal period, during which concerned parties can lodge formal objections.

Vasse MP Libby Mettam echoed the sentiment of disappointment felt by many, also highlighting the EPA’s 2009 decision that advised against development on the western headland. This continued tension between development aspirations and conservation efforts underscores the complex challenges facing Western Australia’s precious coastal landscapes.