Current Status

We must not allow property developers to clear any more of our bushland! We are running out of time to stop this tsunami of land clearing!

In May 2022, the City of Stirling voted AGAINST rezoning this remnant native bushland. This small win is just the first battle in our ongoing fight to save the Erindale Road Bushland. Any day now, the EPA will put out a call for public comment and we will only have a two-week window to make our voices heard. Make sure you follow us on Facebook so you know the minute we need your help: Friends of Erindale Road Bushland (Save the Hamersley Broadcast Tower Bushland)

The Erindale Road Bushland is a Threatened Ecological Community, providing vital foraging habitat for Black Cockatoos. BAI Communications has applied to the EPA to clear this valuable remnant bushland for housing – this is unacceptable!

The story so far...

• The 42ha of fenced bushland bound by Erindale Road, Reid Highway, Wanneroo Road and Lennox Place in Hamersley (known by some as the Hamersley Broadcast Tower Bushland) was previously in public ownership.

• In 1998 the Commonwealth Government privatised over 700 National Transmission Network sites Australia-wide, including the Hamersley tower.

• The current owners, global communications company, BAI Communications Pty Ltd, bought the network of towers in 2009 including the Hamersley tower and bushland.

• BAI Communications is based in Canada and 86% owned by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Fund.

• In 2020, BAI Communications applied to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and Minister for the Environment, under Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Authority Act 1986 (EPA Act) to have 13.55ha of the bushland on Lot 802 and 803 cleared for urban development.

• Before the land can be redeveloped for residential purposes it needs to be rezoned.

• The proponent lodged an application with the City of Stirling to rezone Lot 802, 179 Erindale Road Hamersley from ‘Public Use - Commonwealth’ to ‘Development’ zone to allow for a housing development.

• The City of Stirling Planning and Development Committee voted unanimously in favour of the City's officer Recommendation NOT to proceed with rezoning this bushland.

• The City’s officer Recommendation from the Planning and Development Committee meeting that Council DOES NOT PROCEED with rezoning this native remnant bushland was automatically and unanimously carried (15/0) at the City of Stirling Council Meeting held 10 May 2022.

• The City of Stirling resolved to investigate the re-zoning of the land to 'Environmental Conservation.'

• According to the proponent’s Environmental Report, the proponent is currently investigating offset opportunities, including:

  • • protection of approximately 2.312ha of land within Lot 803 (neighbouring lot containing the transmission tower) and which includes 1.492ha of native vegetation.

    • acquiring Banksia woodland vegetation on the Swan Coastal Plain to add to the State’s conservation estate.

    • a contribution of funding towards the rehabilitation of conservation/ bushland areas within the City of Stirling, however, this has not been discussed with the City’s officers.

• The EPA is currently processing further information from the applicant before it can progress its assessment. Because a Section 38 application has been submitted, the Minister for Planning cannot approve the scheme amendment until this process is complete.       

• On 28 February 2024, Hon Ayor Makur Chuot tabled an e-petition containing 3437 signatures of residents of WA requesting the permanent protection of 42ha of remnant Banksia, Jarrah and Tuart woodland at 179 Erindale Road Hamersley for the reasons set out in the petition below.

(information updated 2 April 2024)