Gnarabup is a new town site near the famous Margaret River surfing
break and overlooking a popular surf break Grunters. The town site has
had a very controversial history. Many different developments have been
proposed for the area.
On it's current inception it was to be a town site similar to Prevelly with a caravan park, retirement village, shops, low key tourist chalets and 140 houses. Most restrictions are being removed for development of the area with replacement of the Town Planning Scheme by a larger overall scheme covering the shire. The local community has fought to control unbridled development in the area and the local shire has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal defense of the area. The WAPC have now approved a structure plan that will see the area house over 2500 tourists with major outstanding infrastructure issues including sewage, beach access and fire risk that have not been addressed properly. The shire appear to have no control over the current planning process for the area and cannot stop this development running out of control. It is graphic illustration of a deeply flawed state planning process.
This image shows the first stage of the tourist development and is a constant reminder that this type of development cannot continue on this pristine coastline.
Leeuwin Environment Group are currently representing the communities interests and have supplied information for this site. The Environmental Defender's Office WA (Inc)has provided legal advice and assistance to the Leeuwin Environment Group regarding the Gnarabup development.
On it's current inception it was to be a town site similar to Prevelly with a caravan park, retirement village, shops, low key tourist chalets and 140 houses. Most restrictions are being removed for development of the area with replacement of the Town Planning Scheme by a larger overall scheme covering the shire. The local community has fought to control unbridled development in the area and the local shire has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal defense of the area. The WAPC have now approved a structure plan that will see the area house over 2500 tourists with major outstanding infrastructure issues including sewage, beach access and fire risk that have not been addressed properly. The shire appear to have no control over the current planning process for the area and cannot stop this development running out of control. It is graphic illustration of a deeply flawed state planning process.
This image shows the first stage of the tourist development and is a constant reminder that this type of development cannot continue on this pristine coastline.
Leeuwin Environment Group are currently representing the communities interests and have supplied information for this site. The Environmental Defender's Office WA (Inc)has provided legal advice and assistance to the Leeuwin Environment Group regarding the Gnarabup development.
