Tanya Plibersek supports Nigel Satterley’s contentious North Stoneville townsite

Environment minister Tanya Plibersek has supported contentious property development in the Perth hills but has encouraged the Premier to address community concerns about the project. Nigel Satterley’s North Stoneville townsite — a proposed 500-hectare site that would become home to 4000 people — has been mired in delays amid anxieties of increased bushfire risks. In a letter to Premier Roger Cook sent on Monday, Ms Plibersek approved the project, saying her department was satisfied that native species affected by clearing land could be managed by offsets of other habitats in the area. However, the letter raised concerns about bushfire risk and the safe evacuation of homeowners from the area. “As you are aware, the federal government has no ability or authority to intervene in local planning or zoning decisions as they relate to bushfire risks or traffic management,” she said. “These are properly a matter for State governments. “I trust the Western Australian government is taking every necessary step to address these concerns in accordance with your responsibilities.” Ms Plibersek’s decision allows Satterley’s appeal to proceed against the WA Planning Commission’s 2020 rejection of the project. A delay in the appeal was granted to allow for the environmental approvals process. Liberal senator Linda Reynolds slammed the decision, saying Ms Plibersek had the authority to defer the decision under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. “Recent bushfires in 2003, 2008, 2014, and 2021 all occurred within 5km of the proposed development site,” Senator Reynolds said on Tuesday. “The proposal includes dense residential properties, significantly increasing the fire risks and endangering the entire estate with limited emergency evacuation measures, threatening the lives of residents in the Perth hills.” Both Mr Satterley was contacted for comment, while the State Government declined, citing the upcoming SAT hearing.