A decision to build a bushfire access track across the western side of houses between the old surf club building and Mary Lindsay Homestead is on hold while other options are considered, according to the property owners.

Charmane Edwards, whose grandparents bought the home she now owns in 1947, and other owners met with the City of Wanneroo on June 27 about the proposed bushfire access track.

One of the main concerns is that if the bushfire access track goes in as proposed the track will be on the slope of a vegetated sand dune and very close to homes.

Yanchep News Online asked the City of Wanneroo if a subsidence assessment had been carried out to determine what the effects of removing the vegetation from the area could be especially in relation to 80 Capricorn Esp.

Ms Edwards is concerned any clearing or digging in the proposed area could put her home at risk as it would take place about 1.5m from a west-facing wall.

The City of Wanneroo was also asked how much vegetation will need to be removed to make way for the proposed track and whether the city had expressed any interest in a heritage classification/listing for 80 Capricorn Esp, which is the only remaining original home in the area.

Yanchep News Online also asked if the proposed bushfire access track had anything to do with the infrastructure upgrade necessary for the Be Our Guest proposal for the Old Yanchep surf club site and/or the Yanchep Lagoon masterplan.

Another question was why do 80 Capricorn Esp and the other homes in the area require a bushfire access track when the Guide for applying the bush fire risk treatment standards says the bushfire risk treatment standards do not apply on land identified as Bush Forever or within 100m inland from the high-water mark of the coastline.

Ms Edwards said her home was being preserved and slowly renovated.

“When I inherited it from mum, I could have bulldozed all this and put a brand-new sparkling house up but I just couldn’t do it this is heritage -it’s not listed as heritage mind you,’’ she said.

“The City of Wanneroo wanted me to heritage list it this year and I’m thinking maybe I should have done that and then they won’t be doing this nonsense at the front because it’ll have an effect on this house.’’

In response the City of Wanneroo said it recently engaged an external consultant to complete a bushfire attack level (BAL) assessment report for the Yanchep foreshore.

“The BAL report identified the bushfire risk for the area as ‘extreme’ and highlighted the need for mitigation measures, which may include a bushfire access track,’’ the city said.

The city also confirmed it was meeting with residents to discuss the findings from the report and the next steps.

This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on 1 July 2023.