2026-03-09
Cape Peron, near Rockingham, hosts iconic bushland. Although the threat of housing development has been avoided it now faces multiple threats posed by AUKUS.
By James Mumme, Brand Greens
Brand Greens held a BUSH WALK in February through part of Cape Peron. Thirteen of us took part in the gentle stroll to see Friends of Point Peron's work to restore the bush and hear a little of the history of Cape Peron. We appreciated the cool shade under magnificent tuart trees planted over 80 years ago by some far sighted greenie and enjoyed the local birds including two black cockies.
Friends of Point Peron began in 2006 in response to a government inspired plan to put a 12 ha marina with canals for luxury housing in the middle of the bush ‒ clearly they did not understand the meaning of marine! Anyway, the plan was approved by both State and Federal EPAs but was sunk on planning grounds by the incoming ALP Government in 2018.
Since then it was declared a Class A Reserve but with very little extra money for bush restoration (although over $1million for a toilet).
The latest threat comes from AUKUS in many. forms. Biggest is locating a prime target for a nuclear attack only 20km away from 500,000 people living in the direction of prevailing winds. Immediate threats include traffic congestion on roads leading to Garden Island Naval Base with thousands of tradies arriving from interstate to add to the local workforce. Then there will be the expected arrival of somewhere between 1,200 and 1,700 US service people and their families which will place ever more stress on local amenities like doctors, the hospital, local schools.
As well, Navy plans to dredge channels in Cockburn Sound and dump the spoil back into the Sound only 200 m away from dredge sites ‒ another threat to the already stressed seagrass and the fish stocks of the Sound. Apparently it will cost too much to take the spoil elsewhere.
Another issue is the construction of a nuclear waste dump on adjacent Garden Island very close to the beach and not far above the current water level.
Thank you to all those who have protested and written against AUKUS, against allying ourselves with the dodgiest leader in history and against the waste of $375 Billion. Keep an eye on Green Announce for future anti-AUKUS actions.
Header photo: Point Peron region Google satellite
[Opinions expressed are those of the author and not official policy of Greens WA]