Development plans not clear: environment group

Busselton Dunsborough Environment Centre committee is calling on the City of Busselton to provide clearer plans for the Busselton Foreshore development claiming it is open to misinterpretation in its current form.

In a letter to project manager Paul Crewe, BDEC secretary Jocelyn Elphick, on behalf of the organisation, said feedback they received revealed “a good deal of confusion” in the minds of the community on the details of the plans.

“As this is one of the most important developments in the future plan for our city, it is imperative that the community be fully and clearly informed at each stage of the proceedings and able to offer valid opinion and suggestions as to steps seen as vital to its expectations,” she said.

BDEC called for the plan to be represented in an enlarged format, available in major shopping centres, the plan area to be reduced to exclude the irrelevant parts of the foreshore, a spokesperson be present at specified and convenient times to explain any points raised by the public and for the public submissions period to be extended by a month.

Mayor Ian Stubbs welcomed feedback from the committee and encouraged them and anyone else with issues interpreting elements of the plan to arrange a meeting or formal presentation with city officers.

Mayor Stubbs said the length of the consultation period for the master plan was extended from the normal period of 30 days to 42.

He said all residents from surrounding areas had received a copy and were invited to a public briefing session, specific briefings had been made to most foreshore stakeholders and copies of the plan were available at both libraries and the City administration building.