Save Smiths Beach Again Campaign

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Hesperia and associated business partners of the Smiths Beach Project, combined, are worth an estimated 2 billion dollars. BUT for just
50K, we at the Smiths Beach Action Group reckon we can give Hesperia a run for their money, and that's despite Hesperia having recently donated $50,000 to WA Labor and a further $16721 to Perth Trades Hall. 

 You know the story... we've been here before (if not, please read below) but, this time MORE is a stake for Smiths Beach, in fact,  a whopping 30% more. That's right, Hesperia's development foot print is 30% larger than the last proposed development and with your support whether that be online through Face Book, Instagram and most importantly, financial, means we can continue our campaign to Save Smiths Beach Again.

What do we need cash for? In a nutshell, consultancy costs, public awareness campaigns and media.

Hesperia is a billion dollar property developer with a large team of consultants working on this project, creating an imbalance of power. We want to engage independent consultants to assess the proposal and advise SBAG on best strategy and this may include costs in seeking independent legal advice. This will be our greatest expense on top of costs for advertising, a merchandise kickstart program and small admin costs. All the crew at SBAG are working for free, or, for the love of Smiths Beach depending on how you look at it.

 SBAG volunteers  meet fortnightly , but, their subcommittees are meeting weekly and emails and phone calls happen on a day to day basis. They are an incredible bunch of humans from all walks of life. There are: architects, ex-town planners, lawyers, environmentalists, firemen, teachers, doctors, musicians and,  a single mum with an axe to grind- ok, so that's me. Point is, this eclectic mob is volunteering many hours per week on behalf of their community and this CALL OUT for financial support is where YOU can make a difference no matter how big or small your donation is.

Thank you!



And now... for the background info of Smiths Beach Action Group IF you aren't' already in the loop...


The Smiths Beach Action Group needs your help and financial support to continue our campaign to fight for that there is transparency and democratic accountability in the process for the proposed development by Hesperia Group at Smiths Beach, one of the most iconic and pristine beaches in the southwest.

The past history of this site is well known but the recent history is not. Hesperia, one of Perth's largest and most politically influential developers has been working behind the scenes on a development proposal for 3 years, and without any community consultation. The first the community heard of it was in May 2021 – and the information we’ve since discovered has led to widespread community concern about the size and scale of the development, its visual and environmental impact, and fire hazard and safety risks.

We are not against development of the site. We just want it done right – and will support a proposal that adheres to the planning laws and environmental conditions.

Thanks to the work of the Smiths Beach Action Group we know more than we did before and have started the Save Smiths Beach Again community campaign to pressure Hesperia to release its proposal, to ensure a proper community consultation process and that Smiths Beach is protected.

But we now need your help.  
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WHAT ARE THE FUNDS FOR?

We are a community group taking on a property magnate with very, very deep pockets. This imbalance of power means the odds are stacked against us. We need to raise funds, which will be used for the following community campaign activities:

·       PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

o   The Smiths Beach Action Group’s primary task has so far been to organize the community and raise awareness about the proposed development. This work must continue given Hesperia’s failure to do so.

o   We plan to undertake our own community consultation, which will require holding events, workshops, and community engagement sessions to ensure the public and the local community understand the implications of Hesperia’s proposal.

·       MEDIA & ADVOCACY STRATEGY

o   Hesperia has so far been able to keep the public in the dark about their plans and their strategy.

o   The Smiths Beach Action Group wants to advertise in the local media to ensure there is transparency and local democratic accountability in this process and to ensure that local community is properly informed.

·       CONSULTANCY COSTS

o   Hesperia is a billion dollar property developer with a large team of consultants working on this project, creating an inequality of arms

o   The Smiths Beach Action Group wants to engage independent consultants to assess the proposal to inform our advocacy and campaign and the official community response in any future development proposal.

o   This may include costs in seeking independent legal advice in relation to the proposed development and the state government’s COVID fast-track process

The Smiths Beach Action Group is also planning other fundraising activities such as producing and selling merchandise, and holding benefit events, which we hope you will support.

But right now, we need your donations and support.

Simply click on the link to donate: https://gofund.me/fcf2820a  Folks who donate $150 or more receive a FREE campaign tees-shirt.

Thank you! If you want more information or want to be more involved in the campaign, please follow us and get involved:

·     Email: [email redacted]

·     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/206839954783179/

·     Instagram: @save_smithsbeach

·     website: www.savesmithsbeach.org



Thank you for your support


Regards

Smiths Beach Action Group

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ABOUT THE PROPOSED HESPERIA DEVELOPMENT


Smiths Beach Action Group is not against development of the site. We just want it done right – and will support a proposal that adheres to the planning laws and environmental conditions.

 

Hesperia is planning a 65 room exclusive hotel, 61 large residential blocks, a camp ground, bakery, cafes and restaurant, retail and shops, plus surf club and much more.

 

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY CONSULTATION 

Hesperia has been working on the project since 2019, Hesperia have been working with the WAPC since 2020, however the community has been strategically kept out of the process.

 

It was community pressure on Hesperia by the Smiths Beach Action Group that forced them into meeting us in May & June 2021. Hesperia were secretive and would only release limited and targeted information during these meetings.

 

This limited information that was released has caused alarm and concern within the community, within the Busselton Council and by our Local MP’s. All of which have formally written to the Minister and Hesperia for explanations.

 

Our main concerns with Hesperia’s proposal are the following:

1.   It DOES NOT meet the Approved Development Area, Hesperia’s proposal is +32% Larger than allowed:

·     Approved Building Envelope – 12.8ha     

·     Hesperia's Proposed Building Envelope – 17ha (+32%)

 

2.   Hesperia’s proposal will also result in a -20% loss in area of a future National Park as required by planning law.

·       Approved National Park Area – 21.1ha

·       Hesperia's Proposed National Park Area – 16.9ha (-20%)

 

3.   Increased visual and ecological impact by increasing the development footprint by 32%, developing up and on to the western ridge. This area is outside the legal developable area violating planning law, the approved Development Guide Plan (DGP) and EPA rulings. See image at end of email.

 

4.   Increased clearing of native vegetation required to achieve the development from the current approved development guide plan.

·     Approved Clearing Area – 11.3ha     

·     Hesperia Proposed Clearing Area – 15ha (+30%)

 

5.   Lack of due process and avoiding the application of planning law. Hesperia can potentially by-pass local & state planning laws by utilizing the COVID ‘Short Track’ Planning and Development Amendment Act 2020.

 

6.   Numerous NON-COMPLIANCE with planning laws of the WAPC, EPA, SAT, Busselton Local Planning Scheme & the DGP, these include but are not limited to:

 

·     Non-compliance with the tourism zoning, being that the land use is predominately residential instead of tourism. This directly contravenes local planning law, is motivated by the increased profits for Hesperia and will result in the increased overall development envelope area.

 

·     Non-compliance with conservation covenants and rehabilitation requirements.

 

·  Placing public land and waterways at risk through not adhering to the current approval requiring reticulated sewerage.

 

·  Non-compliance to the required road upgrades to sustain the traffic increase from the development.

 

·     And many others, please follow us if you want more information:

·     Email: please email us at [email redacted]

·     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/206839954783179/

·     Instagram: @save_smithsbeach

 

Note: figures and information used in this email were provided by Hesperia to the Smiths Beach Action Group & other locals on 24 May & 24 June 2021. They have been confirmed with Hesperia for accuracy.

 

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Regards

Smiths Beach Action Group