Push back over Wilyabrup coastal plan

A proposed accomodation project on the Wilyabrup coast has led to the creation of an action group, with residents opposed to the development saying owners have “leap frogged” local authorities.

Owner of the 41 hectare property at Lot 495 Moses Rock Road, Troy Hall said the “intimate retreat” would consist of ten chalets, a “welcome building for events” and eight seasonal camping sites.

“I walked sections of the Cape to Cape with my kids, and I used to look at these properties and think the people who lived there were the luckiest people on the planet,” Mr Hall said.

“We love to walk the land, scan for whales off the coast and just enjoy each other’s company here. And this is exactly my vision for the future as we bring together plans to be able to host visitors from WA and around the world.

“With my background in construction, and [wife] Elizabeth’s background in ecology, we couldn’t help but start to envisage the potential for Lot 495 and what might be possible.”

Concerned residents have banded together to protest the plan, which they said “completely contravenes” the City of Busselton’s Local Planning Scheme 21 (LPS21) and “is at stark odds” with the State Government’s Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge Policy to protect the property against “irresponsible environmental development”.

They said the WA Planning Commission’s ‘fast track’ pathway established during the COVID-19 pandemic to accelerate the development application process had allowed the project to avoid dealing with local authorities and that multiple references to a “Legal Land Use Letter” in the application drew questions over the transparency of the approvals process.

“We also find the use of pre-emptive legal clout against the City of Busselton to be abhorrent,” local resident Max Mueller said.

“We question why such strategic legal moves were required in the first place, if this application has been submitted in good faith via the WAPC process and supposedly satisfies all relevant regulation.”

Wilyabrup resident and business owner Nic Peterkin said it was “outrageous” to propose a development of such scale in rural landscape zoning.

“Nothing of this scale has been put forward before,” he said.

“It is a Perth property developer absolutely green-washing another supposedly ‘direly needed’ tourism factory that would irrevocably alter the visual amenity of the Cape to Cape track and set a dangerous precedent for others to follow in his footsteps.

“Our group is forensically working through all the documents put forward to counter all the so-called ‘eco’ claims.”

Mr Hall said the Lot 495 project was born from a “simple desire” to share the region with visitors and to help ease accomodation demands in the South West.

“This place has become so special to us and it’s important that first and foremost we respect the landscape and create something that really complements and maintains the natural character of the site,” he said.

“Our proposed design aims to integrate the retreat within the rugged natural beauty of the coastline, while acknowledging the special cultural connection of traditional owners to the area.

“The chalets and event space will respond to the natural palette of the surrounding environment and are located to achieve the right balance between giving our guests the best views in the world and ensuring Cape to Cape trail walkers enjoy the space and natural environment.”

Mr Hall said supporting the tourism industry and highlighting the traditional Wadandi culture of the area was a key driver in establishing the venue.

“It’s important to me that we respect the culture of local First Nations people, but our plan for Lot 495 is that we go beyond that and use this special land as an opportunity to educate people and share stories,” he said.

A spokesperson for ‘Save Moses Rock’ said the group of around 30 people was growing in number, and called for locals to view and comment on the application prior to the May 1 deadline.

The public consultation period is now open, visit www.haveyoursay.dplh.wa.gov.au/wilyabrupaccomm