13 hours ago
Controversial ramp labelled 'seawall' dropped from Smiths Beach tourism village proposal
The proponent of a $280 million tourism development in Western Australia's South West has dropped plans for a controversial beach access ramp amid staunch community opposition.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced today that Smiths 2014 Pty Ltd, a company of Perth businessman Adrian Fini, has requested to remove the universal access ramp from its proposed luxury beach development at Smiths Beach, about 250 kilometres south of Perth.
The access ramp drew significant criticism from members of the community, who labelled it as a "seawall" that would impact coastal erosion and visual amenity.
The proponent has denied it was a seawall, insisting the ramp would have replaced an existing limestone ramp used by visitors, lifesavers and emergency services to access the beach.
The proposal is currently being assessed by the EPA for environmental impacts.
A spokesperson said the amendment would result in a small overall reduction in the development envelope.
The proposed development envelope is nearly 42 hectares, with around half of that to be impacted by buildings.
According to developers' documents, the ramp would have been 88 metres long, 2.5m high and 4m wide, with a 10m rock wall on the ocean side of the ramp.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Fini Group said the ramp was intended as an upgrade for the foreshore to improve beach access.
"Feedback received clearly indicates a strong community preference to retain the current informal beach access and avoid physical changes to the beach front," the spokesperson said.
The decision follows years of advocacy and protests from the Save Smiths Beach Action Group, with WA's Liberal and Greens parties also forming an unlikely alliance against the controversial proposal.
Save Smiths Beach Action Group spokesperson David Mitchell said the removal of the ramp was a "great victory".
"Against all odds, they stood up against a very powerful group of WA businessmen, knowing they were doing the right thing."
Although happy with the outcome, Mr Mitchell said the group will keep campaigning against parts of the development.
"It's great the EPA has come out after doing an investigation and said 'Nope, that is actually correct' and pressured the developer into an alternate solution," he said.
"We're all very glad the beach will be saved, but it doesn't negate the fact that this development is larger than allowed under the current planning and environmental rules.
The EPA will publish submissions received during its eight-week public review in the coming weeks.
Its report and recommendations will then go to the WA Minister for Environment Matthew Swinbourn for review.
