Busselton council asked to vote no on Anniebrook wakeboard park

The proposed development would see a purpose-built cable-ski lake, boat lake and aqua park built on the Wildwood Road property as well as a restaurant area and six chalets.

The development concept has angered neighbours, who are fearful the development will suck dry precious water sources and ruin the natural amenity of the area, which is land originally zoned for agriculture.

​The report by city officers stated the proposal would result in a detrimental impact on the amenity of the neighbouring properties.

It said the proposal was inconsistent with the amenity of the locality and the objectives of the zone, and the proposal does not constitute orderly and proper planning. 

When the application was originally submitted, it was endorsed by the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, which sent a letter of support to the city.

Then association chief executive officer Claire Savage wrote the proposed park would attract repeat interstate and international visitors to the region and would assist in growing the region’s “active and adventure profile.”

The City of Busselton council will vote on the subject on Wednesday, August 8. 

Many Anniebrook residents attend the council’s community access session on July 31 to voice their concerns over the proposal.

Neighbour Keith Williams’ property shares a boundary with the site.

He described the proposal as a ‘mining site’ and a ‘crime against the environment’. 

He finished his presentation to a round of applause after his self-dubbed ‘family impact statement’ revealed how the family had sought a rural and relaxed lifestyle but the stress had caused ill health among its members. 

“Our lives have been completely ruined these last seven months,” he said.

Neighbour Brendan Jones’ property is immediately to the east of the proposed development and runs parellel to the whole proposal.

Mr Jones went so far to have his property assessed by a valuer, who took into consideration the impact the proposal would have.

Mr Jones said they were advised of a 15 per cent devaluation, which he cautiously estimated as $2 million.

His wife Janey also spoke and said she hoped common sense would prevail.

“This area is renowned for rich farming soil. We were told it was agriculture zone and changes were not possible for 20 years,” she said.

“I fear that if this is to be approved it will be ‘no wood road’, not Wildwood Road.”

Derek Gascoine, who also lives in the area, argued the proposal went against the tourism brand the City of Busselton had worked hard to create.

“It would be totally out of place in this district,” he said.

“It will not just ruin the neighbours lives but it will not fit in with the district and the culture.

“I’ve been involved in tourism and I say if you wouldn’t live there, go there, or eat there, don’t develop it.”

Farmers Andrew and Michael Lewis expressed their concern about what the park would do to the area’s water sources, while Kate Nass and Juanita Stafford reiterated the impact on the idyllic lifestyle.

“People shifted here for a reason, not for a big ugly thing like this on our door step,” she said.

“Please take into account all the lives this is going to destroy if this goes ahead.”

“My family have lived on our property for 60 years and it break my heart, I don’t want to see speedboats or drunk people,” Ms Stafford said.

“I just don’t think it fits.”

After ten people spoke out against the proposal resident Ben Cadd spoke in favour of the proposal.

“I’ve listened to a lot of negative perceptions and think for young familiies there are also some positives to this,” he said.

“I feel the wake park would offer employment potential and provide alternative opportunity for to people use the environment.

“The nature of our beaches is changing, it is not the surfing mecca it once was, people are looking for safer options. This has the opportunity to hold professional events and is another spoke in wheel of what tourism in the region could be.”

When proponent Cameron Akers got the right of reply he reiterated the points mentioned by Mr Cadd and said he wanted to create a different option for visitors, in a region bursting with food and beverage venues.

“With the flat tourism numbers, we need to think of alternatives,” he said.

“There are a very limited number of man-made sport facilities in the area.

“We want the facility to be owned by the South West. The location is central to Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River so this site was the best opportunity for access.”

Councillor Paul Carter questioned whether Mr Akers would consider modifying the development in order for it to be approved.

This is something city officers had already raised with Mr Akers. 

“If the proposal were modified such that only the cable ski lake were proposed, and not the boat lake, the potential noise impacts would be significantly reduced, and it would be possible to locate the development more within the centre of the subject site, and therefore further away from neighbouring properties,” the report from city officer’s stated.

“Officers have had a number of discussions of that kind with the proponent, but the proponent has indicated that they are unwilling to modify the proposal in that kind of way.”

Mr Akers said it was the combination of a cable-ski lake and boat lake which made the proposal unique.

“The intent is to try and attract competitions, excluding the boat lake is a big portion of clientele and limits our ability to attract competitions,” he said.

“There is currently only one facility like this in Australia.” 

City of Busselton councillors recently visited the property and city officers have met with officers from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to discuss elements of the proposal pertaining to water.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation refused the proponent’s application to take groundwater from the Leederville aquifer as the water source is already fully allocated to the Dunsborough-Vasse subarea. 

However, the department granted a licence to authorise the exploratory drilling and groundwater investigation of the Sue Coal Measures Formation.

Water is available for allocation from this aquifer, but there are very few bores and the ability to extract water is variable.

In a letter to the City of Busselton submitted as part of the proposal, the department said it does not object to the proposal, however, it was logical that the proposal could not succeed without firstly securing a suitable water supply to fill and maintain the lakes.