INAPPROPROPRIATE REDEVELOPMENT THREATENS
ALLEN PARK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
In Western Australia, Class A reserves represent land with the highest level of protection, primarily used to safeguard areas of high conservation or community value.
These reserves are dedicated to a specific purpose, such as recreation or conservation, and require parliamentary approval for any significant changes.
Most national parks and nature reserves are classified as Class A.
In 1901, Allen Park in Swanbourne was identified as having such high value that its reserves were categorised as ‘Class A reserves’ to protect them for future generations.
However, in 2020 the State Government removed 6,000sqm of Class A reserve in Allen Park for the construction of a HOSPITAL (children’s hospice).
This was despite the area being difficult to access, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services not supporting a building housing vulnerable people in this location due to bushfire risk. Hospital construction commenced in 2025.
The Health Department has now requested the Minister for Lands hand over an additional 3,000sqm of land for “complementary parkland for the hospice”.
This is extremely concerning because the targeted area is Class A reserve, which has the highest protection under WA’s land protection classification system (same as Kings Park), and specifically the location of a current project by the City of Nedlands (in collaboration with the community) for an all-abilities, wheelchair accessible path and appropriate rehabilitation and landscaping.
The area is the final section of the nationally recognised Whadjuk Bush to Beach Trail known as the Norn Bidi section.
A sustained campaign of misinformation by the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and the State Government, supported by sections of the media, has resulted in many people being under the impression that the area is “neglected”, and that there is opposition to a children’s hospice – which is entirely untrue.
Far from being neglected, this area has for many years been maintained by the City of Nedlands as a fire break in accordance with fire regulations. This entails regular mowing of grasses, but no extensive plantings or tree canopy.
The area is not suitable for an intensely developed parkland as proposed by developers of the hospice, which has sought control over the land in all its offers to develop a parkland. It is even more important to maintain its integrity as a fire break now that a hospital housing vulnerable patients is adjacent.
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The following statements are from official planning minutes, which point to the targeted area being obtained for purposes other than public accessible parkland in the longer term.
Minutes Hospice Project Control Group obtained through Freedom of Information Law:
First Meeting - July 2020
“…design needs to allow for future growth and clinical requirements (ie to 2032+); potential consideration is to build flexibility into design for additional wing construction…”
Meeting Nov 2021
“…the footprint will not be able to be extended further north or east due to Bushfire Attack Level restrictions - but there may be some flexibility around adding additional floor areas within reason to the south and west.”
Having publicly denied seeking control of land between the WA Bridge Club and the hospice site, Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation’s offer to develop parkland outside the hospice site has ALWAYS contained clear conditions including these:
‘We would broadly see the area being made available to PCHF under a licence arrangement with conditions…’ (Feb 2024)
‘PCHF proposes that City of Nedlands and PCHF enter into a licence agreement post-construction for 10 years with a further three 10-year options’. (14 May 2024)
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The City of Nedlands has approved the construction of an all-abilities (wheelchair accessible) path and appropriate landscaping, and has produced a draft landscaping plan to be finalised in consultation with the community; including Friends of Allen Park, the Melon Hill Bushland Group - which has been caring for the park for 25 years, and other stakeholders.
Work commenced on the Norn Bidi pathway project in 2024. It is now on hold awaiting completion of the adjacent medical facility.
The Norn Bidi Parkland will then be completed for the use and enjoyment of ALL Park users, including patients, staff and visitors of the WA Children’s Hospice.
PARKLAND DEVELOPMENT ASIDE
THE BIG ISSUE HERE IS THE RETENTION OF CLASS A RESERVE
Removing the protection of Class A status means the land will no longer be in the hands of the community (via Local Government) and publicly accessible in perpetuity. The WA Government plans to incorporate this area into the current hospice site and remove its Class A protection, downgrading it to Class C reserve, opening the way for building expansion and the prevention of public access.
Governments and Boards of Charities come and go, and decisions made or intentions vocalised today may not be upheld in years to come. Only Class A status ensures protection of public access for all people in perpetuity.
Class C reserve will allow restriction or prevention of public access, and building construction (possibly extension of the hospice facility) in the longer term.
The boundary of the proposed excision takes in all the land between Lot 503 and the WA Bridge Club, and extends further West so that, if approved, public access to Swanbourne Reserve and the coast can be restricted or completely denied.
The City of Nedlands has granted the builder of the hospice temporary use of part of the Class A reserve outside Lot 503, in an effort to assist the developers in getting the hospital facility completed as soon as possible.
Once the hospital is completed the City’s Norn Bidi Parkland project and landscaping can resume.
The Health Department’s excision request has come as quite a shock to the community.
The Minister advertised the excision in both the West Australian (21 Apr) and Post (26 Apr) newspapers as he is bound to do according to the Land Administration Act.
The advertisement in the West Australian triggered the 30-day public comment period, which will close on 21 May.
It is important to remain focussed on the sole issue at hand which is to retain Class A reserve under Management of the City of Nedlands.
Friends of Allen Park sincerely encourages everyone to make a submission to the Minister for Lands rejecting the excision of more Class A reserves in Allen Park.