Planning and Lands Minister John Carey today intervened and overrode the City of Nedlands’ decision to reject the plan to transform the Swanborne land, situated next to a children’s hospice, into a park dedicated to terminally ill children.
“I’ve not seen anything like it, I think Nedlands is one of the worst councils in Western Australia,” Carey said.
Carey moved in to take the land at Allen Park off council hands.
“This is the right decision,” he said.
“It is a damning indictment of the Nedlands council and their opposition to both the hospice and now this park.”
The Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation is building the hospice, which will be ready for terminally ill children from mid-next year.
“We are thrilled that the City of Nedlands has been bypassed, allowing us to proceed with creating a beautiful native bushland,” said Ian Campbell of Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“They have been an amazing irritation, just like a mosquito that won’t go away.”
The patch of land is just 3000 square metres, which is roughly the size of two-and-a-half Olympic swimming pools.
Despite multiple attempts, the City of Nedlands refused to answer our questions or talk on camera today.
The council instead released a statement via text, noting “the community has raised concerns regarding the bushfire zone and maintaining public access through Allen Park to the beach at all times.”
Carey labelled it “nimby-ism gone mad”.
“It makes absolutely no sense to want to keep a barren land there instead of a beautiful garden that will serve families and sick and dying children,” he said.
The Minister will put the motion before parliament in 10 days time.
After 2 weeks, if no one disagrees, land ownership will change and become state land.
A motion the opposition says it supports.
