Smiths Beach Project opens to seven-day Environmental Protection Authority community consultation period

Those looking to have their say on the hotly debated proposed Smiths Beach development project have been given just seven days to take part in public consultation for the State’s peak environmental agency. Spearheaded by WA developer Adrian Fini, the coastal village proposes a 65-room hotel, 36 camping spots, a retail centre, surf lifesaving facilities and public amenities within a 19ha footprint. It has been described by supporters as a luxurious village for visitors and locals alike along the famous Cape to Cape walk while lobbyist have dubbed it a blight on the much-loved surf break. The Environmental Protection Authority this week opened the seven-day public consultation period on whether it should assess the proposed development, and if so, at what level. Community members will have until Tuesday May 10 to submit their thoughts through the EPA’s website. Those opposing the development have vocally called on the EPA to launch a full review of the project, claiming the proposal was inconsistent with previous EPA determinations of the same site which would put the neighbouring national park at risk. Smiths Beach Actions Group spokesman David Mitchell said a full review was “essential”. “The current proposal contravenes the major recommendations from EPA’s own 2009 report and will result in a significant loss to the future national park, a dramatic increase in visual impact and vegetation loss,” he said. “Questions must be asked of this developer and the planning minister why this development has been allowed to progress through this Government’s ‘fast-track’ approvals process despite clearly contravening the last EPA report findings?” If the EPA chooses to make a full review on the project it would be the second time WA’s key environmental agency has examined the site for potential development, having first occurred in 2009 under former owners. A Smith Beach Project spokesman, however, has said they would welcome a full review if the EPA called for it, confident the plans would withstand vigorous review and were an improvement on previous plans for the site. “Late last year, the Smiths Beach Project self-referred its new coastal village proposal to the EPA, recognising the need for a rigorous, timely and co-ordinated assessment process which allows for substantial public input,” he said. “The Project Team is confident that its landscape led design for the proposed coastal village represents a significant environmental improvement on the 2009 proposal and looks forward to the EPA undertaking a new assessment.” To find the proposal and submit feedback, community members can visit https://consultation.epa.wa.gov.au/ and follow the Smiths Beach Project, Yallingup links.