Council gives approval for works to transform former university into residential hub, 800 trees to get chop

The City of Stirling has backed forward works to prepare the former ECU Mt Lawley campus for a residential transformation.

The council gave approval for the works at last Tuesday’s meeting but with conditions about tree retention.

The project will build up to 1100 homes and provide open public space close to the CBD.

The works will include demolitions, bulk earthworks, tree removal and site remediation.

The site was historically used as a sanitary landfill prior to 1932 and was deemed remediated for restricted use for a university. A council report said the proposed redevelopment into a sensitive residential area would require a more rigorous contamination assessment.

Tree loss has emerged as one of the most concerning parts of the proposal, with the “worst case scenario” indicating that 836 trees within work areas may be impacted.

An arborist’s report identified 1323 trees on the site and if the full extent of works proceeds, around 487 trees will be kept.

An alternative recommendation from Cr Suzanne Midgale that tree removal be limited to areas proven necessary for contamination remediation, and that every effort be made to retain mature canopy trees, was supported by council members apart from Cr Michael Dudek.

At the meeting, Cr Migdale said “what we can do is ensure the best possible outcome for our community and environment, and that’s why I put up the alternate recommendation”.

”This forward works plan raises real concerns about transparency. The scale of tree removal — over 800 substantial trees — was never mentioned during the master planning consultation,” she said.

“We’re only hearing about it now. The community deserved to know from the start that this site was contaminated and that most of its trees would go.”

Cr Migdale said removing 800 trees could cut the Lawley ward’s canopy by more than 2 per cent.

“When this 17‑hectare site is eventually handed to the city, it will have little to no canopy — and it will take decades to rebuild it,” she said.

Cr Migdale said no one disputed that Perth faced a housing crisis but transparency and sustainability “must go hand in hand” with growth.

“Transparency builds trust. When State agencies communicate openly from the beginning, the planning process functions as it should,” she said.

The city report acknowledged some tree removal was unavoidable.

“From an early stage, the city has requested that tree retention be a priority for this site but also recognised that some tree loss would be inevitable to facilitate the development of the site,” it said.

“Following detailed site investigations, efforts will be made to identify additional trees that may be retained where possible.

“Where investigations confirm that trees can be safely retained without compromising remediation, infrastructure delivery or safety requirements, the extent of vegetation removal will be reduced and retention prioritised.”

Conditions of the city’s approval include a tree protection plan and tree protection specification before works begin to outline how the trees can be protected during site works.

The final decision will be made by the WA Planning Commission.

The vote on the proposal at the city’s planning and development committee meeting on March 10 was tied 4-4, with Cr Suzanne Migdale using her casting vote to recommend approval.

The precinct master plan is also open for public comment until Friday, April 17.