Key Priorities 2010-11
1. Peel Away the Mask Report
High population growth in the local government areas of Serpentine Jarrahdale, Mandurah and Murray; and structural adjustment in the local government areas of Waroona and Boddington associated with mining developments bring increasing social issues into stronger focus. These have been examined in the updating this year of Peel Away the Mask – report of social conditions in the Peel Region (2001).
In 2001 the ‘Peel Away the Mask’ (PATM) study was conducted due to unprecedented population growth in the Peel Region that exceeded and outstripped the capacity of facilities and resources. The purpose of this study was to identify and benchmark the then current status and needs of the Peel community. The study identified there were many gaps in service needs and the rapidly increasing population were recognised as portents to the unprecedented level of demand.
Although the Peel Region is often portrayed as a seemingly idealistic lifestyle and environment, encompassing all the positives of a modern and cosmopolitan metropolis, the study provided an analysis of information that identified another side, a fragile, vulnerable and sometimes stressful existence of many residents, volunteers as well as social and human service providers.
The PATMII report will address the broad areas covered in the original study (health and community services, housing, safety and security, education, income and employment) and in addition will review indigenous experience across these areas. More specific attention will be given to: mental health services, migrant experiences, homelessness, youth services, poverty (including the working poor), aged care, and of course transport.
The PATMII report will form the basis for the Region producing its responses and an outline of necessary actions by governments and other stakeholders to the issues identified.
It is anticipated that, subject to acceptance by key stakeholders in the region, RDA Peel will take a lead role in:
- Analysing the report findings
- Bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the findings
- Formulating a strategy to address the issues identified in the report
- Leading approaches to Government lobbying for resources necessary to address the issues identified in the report
2. Recommendations of the Catchment Conditions and Priorities – Peel-Harvey Catchment 2011 report
Consistently high population growth and associated development, coupled with lower rainfall has placed pressure on the Peel-Harvey Catchment, coastal areas and the environment generally. The health of the Peel-Harvey Catchment is continuing to deteriorate, coastal erosion issues are becoming prominent and climate change induced sea level rises will have a dramatic impact in the Region.
During development of the Peel Regional Plan it was identified that, despite the large volume of studies and research conducted on the Peel-Harvey Catchment, there was no definitive consolidation of this information available to assess the current state of the Peel-Harvey Catchment and estuary. At 2½ times the size of Sydney Harbour, this dominant environmental feature of the Peel Region, is also an important recreational, tourism and fishing attraction. As a result of this concern, the RDA Peel engaged the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council to prepare a report on:
- Current state of the estuary and catchment
- Current issues with the estuary and catchment
- Proposed solutions to these issues (in priority order) in accordance with the requirements above
- Any future development related issues that can be identified along with potential solutions
The resultant Catchment condition and priorities – Peel-Harvey Catchment 2011* report was produced. This report identifies that the Peel-Harvey Estuary and surrounding Peel Yalgorup Ramsar Site are internationally significant assets of economic, environmental and cultural importance. Of concern is that land use planning for a tripling of the local population and the creation of up to 185,900 new residences over the next two decades is well underway, and will place additional pressure on an already stressed Estuary and catchment.
Monitoring and research over the past 5 years indicates that many of the catchment’s natural resources are in a state of deterioration. This applies especially to the water quality of the lower reaches of the Serpentine and Murray Rivers, catchment native vegetation, watercourse condition, and the state of the Estuary. The Estuary and lower rivers already receive twice the amounts of nutrient pollution that the ecosystem can naturally assimilate.
The report makes a series of recommendations to address issues identified in the report. RDA Peel, working with the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and other relevant agencies, will progress the implementation of the report recommendations by making strategic approaches to Governments to fund the enabling and other projects specified.
*Peel-Harvey Catchment Council et al; Catchment condition & priorities – Peel-Harvey Catchment 2011 (February 2011)
Catchment condition and priorities Peel-Harvey Catchment 2011
Other Activities
All activities are identified in the RDA Business Plan 2011-12.
