5.2 Physical and Topographic Features Topographical features of particular significance in the local area include: the Darling Scarp Tonkin Highway Welshpool Road The area subject to the proposal is located in the foothills area of transition between the Swan coastal plain and the Darling Scarp. The proponent describes the affected area as type community and referenced the ‘rural Foothills enclaves’ commonality of zoning, infrastructure and block size shared with the neighbouring areas of Orange Grove and Martin, a commonality that is said to be not shared with the majority of adjoining Lesmurdie or Forrestfield. Tonkin Highway and Welshpool Road form the northern and western boundary of the area proposed to be transferred to Gosnells. Welshpool Road, for some 3.5 kilometres or so, would form part of new southern boundary of the Shire. This is a reasonable feature to use as a local government boundary. The proposal swaps Tonkin Highway for Welshpool Road as part of the boundary between the two local governments; in the words of one inquiry major road is as participant, ‘one good as another as a local government boundary’. A Bush Forever site (50), Welshpool Road Bushland, is located on the north side of Welshpool Road and is not within the affected area. As one respondent noted, there are no obvious topographical features which would indicate a greater connection of this portion of Wattle Grove with the City of Gosnells. The Shire of Kalamunda submitted that the rural areas of Wattle Grove share a commonality of zoning, services, infrastructure and lot sizes with a number of other rural areas within the Shire, such as Pickering Brook and Bickley. The semi-rural area of Wattle Grove provides a buffer between the urban areas of Wattle Grove and reserved land along the Darling Scarp. Figure 4 Satellite image, Wattle Grove locality Source: The Board notes that given that the current boundary slices through the semi-rural landscape without consistently relating to the road network or other topographical features, the proposal creates a marginally better boundary between the elector’s Shire of Kalamunda and the City of Gosnells. Importantly, the saw-tooth boundary would be removed. 5.3 Demographic Trends
5.2 Physical and Topographic Features Topographical features of particular significance in the local area include: the Darling Scarp Tonkin Highway Welshpool Road The area subject to the proposal is located in the foothills area of transition between the Swan coastal plain and the Darling Scarp. The proponent describes the affected area as ‘rural Foothills type community enclaves’ and referenced the commonality of zoning, infrastructure and block size shared with the neighbouring areas of Orange Grove and Martin, a commonality that is said to be not shared with the majority of adjoining Lesmurdie or Forrestfield. Tonkin Highway and Welshpool Road form the northern and western boundary of the area proposed to be transferred to Gosnells. Welshpool Road, for some 3.5 kilometres or so, would form part of new southern boundary of the Shire. This is a reasonable feature to use as a local government boundary. The proposal swaps Tonkin Highway for Welshpool Road as part of the boundary between the two local governments; in the words of one inquiry participant, ‘one major road is as good as another as a local government boundary’. A Bush Forever site (50), Welshpool Road Bushland, is located on the north side of Welshpool Road and is not within the affected area. As one respondent noted, there are no obvious topographical features which would indicate a greater connection of this portion of Wattle Grove with the City of Gosnells. The Shire of Kalamunda submitted that the rural areas of Wattle Grove share a commonality of zoning, services, infrastructure and lot sizes with a number of other rural areas within the Shire, such as Pickering Brook and Bickley. The semi-rural area of Wattle Grove provides a buffer between the urban areas of Wattle Grove and reserved land along the Darling Scarp. Figure 4 Satellite image, Wattle Grove locality Source: The Board notes that given that the current boundary slices through the semi-rural landscape without consistently relating to the road network or other topographical features, the elector’s proposal creates a marginally better boundary between the Shire of Kalamunda and the City of Gosnells. Importantly, the saw-tooth boundary would be removed. 5.3 Demographic Trends