Yabberup gutted: New major gravel pit threatens agricultural and tourism businesses in Preston River Valley

Overwhelming community opposition has failed to stop shire approval of a 40ha gravel pit located along the Ferguson Valley tourist drive. The proposal was opposed in all but one of the 72 submissions received by the Shire of Donnybrook-Bailngup. The Yabberup community is concerned over the future of the Preston River Valley after an increase in mining exploration tenements across the region with the approval of the gravel pit heightening their fears. Julieanne Hilbers is one of many property owners in the vicinity of the project and said she would be directly effected. “There is a lot of distress in the community regarding this project,” she said. “Personally I’ve had to halt plans to establish a program on my property for struggling youth as the nature-based experience I’d intended to promote will be contradicted by the nearby pit that will be visible from the property.” Ms Hilbers — who is also a spokesperson for Promote Preston — said the project does not align with either the agricultural values of the area nor the agri-eco-adventure tourism focus of the community. “Yabberup is now the southern gateway to the expanded Wellington National Park,” she said. “Our (Promote Preston’s) plans for a rail trail connecting Donnybrook to Noggerup and walking trails in the expansion area are compromised by having a major gravel pit front and centre. “We are also concerned as a second application has been made to increase the size of the extraction area.” In addition to the overwhelming proportion of submissions opposing approval, the shire’s executive also recommended not giving it the go ahead. However, Commissioner Gail McGowan approved the project at a Special Council Meeting on August 30, albeit with a strict range of conditions. The conditions included a maximum one metre land excavation depth, activity confined between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, and staging and sequencing of the project cannot occur over more than two hectares at a time. Other conditions included no trucks are permitted to operate during morning and afternoon school bus times, a bond is to be paid to ensure that the land is appropriately rehabilitated, and the approval is restricted to a five year period. In a media release issued on September 4, Commissioner McGowan said that it was a difficult decision to reach given the level of public interest and the particularly special nature of the Preston River Valley. “It is prime agricultural land and a part of the broader Preston River, Ferguson and Collies River Valley tourist area,” she said. “However, on balance, it was considered that a heavily conditioned approval offers the best protection for the uniqueness of the region while also recognising the importance of having access to basic raw materials such as gravel.” Local community group, Save Preston River Valley, are actively advocating against the gravel extraction business, claiming the area is a bio zone of regional significance that is incompatible with mining and major extractive industries. SPRV deputy chair Jay McCormack said the gravel pit will not only negatively change the visual amenity of the area, it will create noise pollution impacting on the landholders who live nearby and along the valley. “In a time of a drying climate and extreme weather events, we are also very concerned about the potential to negatively impact the local wetlands and the Preston River.”