‘It’s not over yet’: Abbey residents are still fighting against the Abbey South Precinct structure plan

Residents of the beach side suburb of Abbey will push on with their campaign to stop the development of a nearby open space, despite a small win at Wednesday’s City of Busselton council meeting. The residents secured several amendments to the Abbey South Structure Plan which will create at least 350 dwellings for almost 1000 people on the 30.5ha site along with a mix of commercial uses. The amendments, moved by Cr Kate Cox will lower the density in several areas to reduce traffic pressures, create a larger buffer around the caravan park, realign the southern shared path to preserve mature vegetation and install a smaller roundabout. “With these modifications we can improve this development and we can continue to advocate preservation of Abbey North,” Cr Cox said. “The modifications will reduce the overall density, retain some vegetated corridors for the local fauna and assist with traffic flow along Caves Road.” The amendments were passed 6-1 by council, but Abbey residents say that “it’s not over yet” and they plan to write to the WA Planning Commission and the Planning Minister to try and stop the development. Residents’ concerns about the structure plan centre on the development’s impact on wild life and anticipated increased traffic with at least 1000 more people living in the area. Abbey resident Helena Nicholson said the objective of council should be to try to preserve the natural environment. “We don’t want tiny lots, rear access lane ways and 400 houses poked into the paddock in order to round off the area,” Ms Nicholson said. “We don’t want the 50 mature trees to be cleared. Local government areas across the country are protecting trees and preserving canopy. Just because we have land around us, doesn’t mean each mature tree has any less value than one in a city Street. “We should be leading the way and insisting that future developments are created to fit the environment not have the environment cleared to suit a map.” Having been approved by council, the Abbey South Structure Plan will now be submitted to the WA Planning Commission for consideration and determination in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2005.