Over 200 people brave the weather!
Organisers of the today’s Hands Off Point Peron (HOPP) rally were delighted by the turnout. Spokesperson for HOPP Dawn Jecks said, “The number of people who were prepared to brave the wet and windy conditions at the rally today further demonstrates the strength of community opposition to this project. About 200 people attend the Hands Off Point Peron rally which was held at the site of the proposed canal development.
“Attendees supporting the campaign, opposing the development, included elected representatives from each of the three levels of government. These included City of Rockingham Councillor Joy Stewart, Greens MLC for the South Metropolitan Region Lynn MacLaren and WA Greens Senator Rachel Siewert.
“Senator Rachel Siewert is calling on the Commonwealth Government to stand up and protect the land by ensuring it is used according to the conditions under which it was passed over to the state – that is, for recreational purposes, not development.
“This land was handed over for the benefit of all Western Australians, not just developers and the select few that can afford to buy into a ‘canal estate. The strong turn out at the rally shows this is an issue that the Rockingham community cares deeply about. It is not going to go away.
“Many people in the community still think that this proposed marina is in the water, in Mangles Bay. The truth is that the only part of the development that is in Mangles Bay will be the entry to the inland marina with channels being dredged through 6 hectares of healthy seagrass.
“There have been constant denials that it is a canal development by some in our community, including some elected representatives at local government and state government levels. However, the private sector development partner Cedar Woods ‘specializes’ in residential canal housing developments.
“Our group intends to continue to get the truth out about this development as we steadily build our support base. We plan to hold further rally’s and have plans to take other direct campaign actions against this proposal right up to the next State election”.
