Current Status

Through the dedication and tireless efforts of our volunteers, the Friends of Erindale Road Bushland has campaigned to protect and conserve the 42ha that is the Banksia and Tuart Woodland within Lot 802 and 803 Erindale Road Hamersley.

The story so far...

• The 42ha of fenced bushland bound by Erindale Road, Reid Highway, Wanneroo Road and Lennox Place in Hamersley (known by some as the Hamersley Broadcast Tower Bushland) was previously in public ownership.

• In 1998 the Commonwealth Government privatised over 700 National Transmission Network sites Australia-wide, including the Hamersley tower site.

• The current owners, global communications company, BAI Communications Pty Ltd, bought the network of towers in 2009 including the Hamersley tower and bushland.

• BAI Communications is based in Canada and 86% owned by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Fund.

• In 2020, BAI Communications applied to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and Minister for the Environment, under Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Authority Act 1986 (EPA Act) to have 13.55ha of the bushland on Lot 802 and 803 cleared for urban development.

• Because a Section 38 application (referral of a major proposal to the EPA) has been submitted, the Minister for Planning cannot approve the scheme amendment until this process is complete.     

• Before the land can be redeveloped for residential purposes it needs to be rezoned.

• The proponent lodged an application with the City of Stirling to rezone Lot 802, 179 Erindale Road Hamersley from ‘Public Use - Commonwealth’ to ‘Development’ zone to allow for a housing development.

• The City of Stirling Planning and Development Committee voted unanimously in favour of the City's officer Recommendation NOT to proceed with rezoning this bushland.

• The City’s officer Recommendation from the Planning and Development Committee meeting that Council DOES NOT PROCEED with rezoning this native remnant bushland was automatically and unanimously carried (15/0) at the City of Stirling Council Meeting held 10 May 2022.

• City officers recommended the bushland be included in the Local Biodiversity Strategy as a Locally Significant Natural Area (LSNA), and Council resolved to investigate rezoning the land to ‘Environmental Conservation’.   

• On 28 February 2024, Hon Ayor Makur Chuot tabled an e-petition containing 3437 signatures of residents of WA requesting the permanent protection of 42ha of remnant Banksia, Jarrah and Tuart woodland at 179 Erindale Road Hamersley for the reasons set out in the petition below.

• The EPA (State), which is currently assessing the referral, sought public comment during a 2-week public review in December 2025. The next step in the process is for the proponent to be provided a copy of the submissions and a summary of the key issues raised, and for the proponent to then provide a response to these to the EPA. We will continue to provide updates as we receive them.

• It’s important to know that the proposal to clear the bushland at is being assessed at TWO levels (State and Commonwealth). The proposal is now being assessed at the Commonwealth level, and the EPBC Act public comment period is NOW OPEN. For more information on how to make a submission, please go to ACT NOW! 

(information updated 14 January 2026)