Perth, Western Australia August 23, 2008 Home News Time Out Letters Write a Letter Special Coverage Walsham Classifieds Search Real Estate Trades & Services Submit About Contact Us Advertising Legal	Setback for UWA's bush housing plan A housing estate plan for University of WA land at Floreat has been canned by state planning bosses because it is too close to a sewage plant and is prime bush. The smell from the sewage plant and high conservation value of the bush were cited among six reasons given by the WA Planning Commission for turning down the proposal. But some development might be allowed, the commission said. The decision was given a cautious welcome by the Friends of Underwood Avenue Bushland, who campaigned for the area's preservation. Daniel Boase-Jelinek, spokesman for the Friends, said: "We are obviously thrilled but we are not saying this is an end to our work. "The university will almost certainly continue to put forward new proposals." Mr Boase-Jelinek said the decision gave the Friends time to press for protection of the bush. "We will use the time to make sure the bushland has more secure protection," he said. The proposal from the University of WA was premature and could prejudice the future of the area if it was allowed to go ahead now, the planning commission ruled. An overall plan for the area had not been finalised and other nearby land owners had not supported the proposal. The Water Corporation, which operates the neighbouring sewage plant, has been locked in a legal battle with UWA for more than a year. The UWA claims it is losing out because of a buffer zone around the plant. Doug Durack, spokesman for UWA, confirmed the university had lodged an appeal against the decision and wanted the Town Planning Appeals Tribunal to review it. BACK TO TOP < PREVIOUS - HOME - NEXT> Copyright © 1999 - 2006 Post Newspapers Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.