$100 million Perth Surf Park clears major hurdle for new wave lagoon

The proposed $100 million Aventuur surf park in the Perth suburb of Jandakot is one step closer to breaking ground, after Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority ruled it did not require further assessment.

Despite concerns about endangered black cockatoo habitats on the site, located between an industrial area and the Kwinana Freeway, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) decided the vegetation was already too degraded.

The surf park will sit on 5.78 hectares of land and could require up to 5.26 hectare of native vegetation to be cleared, including 3.15 hectare of Banksia Woodlands, a state-listed priority ecological community.

Environmental consultants commissioned by the proponent, Aventuur, had found that removing Banksia trees, which can be a foraging habitat for Black Cockatoos, could put the threatened species at risk.

The company then referred the project for federal environmental assessment, which found last July it did not present a significant risk to Black Cockatoos and did not need assessment.

Aventuur also referred the surf park to the Western Australia’s EPA, which examined the impacts on flora and fauna, inland waters, water quality from polluted discharge and noise.

During a public comment period, submissions overwhelmingly urged the EPA to assess the project. Out of 1096 submissions, only 150 pushed for no assessment.

After conducting its own investigations, the watchdog agreed with the minority, releasing a statement advising “the EPA considers that the likely environmental effects of the proposal are not so significant as to warrant formal assessment.

"The vegetation has been impacted by historical clearing and ongoing degrading processes leading to large proportion of weeds and limited canopy connectivity.

"The vegetation is of low to moderate quality foraging habitat for Black Cockatoos."

The decision can still be appealed, and Western Australia’s Department of Water and Environmental Regulation will also assess a native vegetation clearing application.

Aventuur said it wanted its projects to "deliver net positive environmental outcomes" and it would buy 18 hectares of Banksia Woodland on the Swan Coastal Plain and donate it to the state as a nature reserve to offset its land clearing.

The proposed surf park would have a large open water surfing lagoon, accommodation, bars and restaurants, a function centre, an events space, a skating area, and a health and wellness centre.

Aventuur has promised that the attraction’s buildings would be five-star green rated and it would remove existing banksia trees during clearing and then replant them on site.

Aventuur advised “in each aspect of our project, we aim to exceed the stringent requirements of the WA government to deliver a world-leading example of a sustainable, responsible surf park development.”

The project also needed development approval from the City of Cockburn to go ahead.

Images: An artist impression of the Perth Wave Park (top) and the attraction's plan (below). Credit: Aventuur.