In June 2025, Michael Bayliss and Mark Allen participated in a community consultation weekend on the future development of North Albany. Michael later presented his observations at the Albany Community Environment Centre forum ahead of the City of Albany elections in September. His presentation explained to prospective councillors and fellow environmentalists why urban planning matters for both social wellbeing and ecological resilience, and it invited attendees to reflect on the long‑term consequences of unchecked growth for the city’s future.
Back in June, I was selected to take part in a weekend community consultation forum for the North Albany District Structure Plan.
As a semi-active contributor for the Friends of Yakamia Forest Boodja, one of my top priorities attending this workshop was to advocate for the protection of said Yakamia forest from the ravages of endless development, in this case a proposed dual carriageway through the middle of endangered Western Ringtail Possum habitat.
During the weekend, it was very clear that there was a wide cross section of the Albany community from a broad spectrum of political leanings. For example, on my table, I sat with active members of both The National and The Liberal party, who on paper, contrasted with myself, a far leftie who believes in such ‘out there’ ideas such as we can’t have infinite economic growth on a finite planet, or that other species have fundamental rights such as the right not to become extinct from human overdevelopment.
Despite the initial differences, it really struck me over the weekend how much across the same page we all were with regard to the future of the North Albany District.
To give some concrete examples, over the weekend each table was asked to list their top five priorities across options over several categories. These was tallied up and written down for prosterity. Let it be clear that:
-Under environmental values, an overwhelming majority of attendees selected the preservation of native vegetation, mature trees, waterways and wildlife.
-Under Heritage and Character values, an overwhelming majority of attendees chose ‘Menang Noongar culture’ ‘Natural Vegetation’ and ‘The Environment’ OVER AND ABOVE ‘Post Settlement Culture’, ‘Views’ and ‘Buildings’.
Hell, by the end of the weekend, even the PROPERTY DEVELOPERS in attendance went against stereotype and actually WANTED to save natural bushland corridors, how about that!
On my table, we were in furious agreement that too much of the natural world around Albany has already been cleared. We were depressed at the car dependent, clear felled, cookie cutter new suburbs marching ever outward.
We had the imagination to envision future communities, centred around village style mixed housing for all lifestyles and needs, walkable neighbourhoods, cycle paths, canopy covered high streets, community gardens, etc. We were inspired by examples of this in old Albany and in new developments in Europe.
We made our feelings loud and clear on that weekend – nevertheless we left with a looming dread. A dread that, ultimately, like so many community consultations, we wouldn’t be listened to. That, yet again, the whims of big developers would win. That the council would be coerced by Governments at the Federal and State Level - panicking at falling short of their target 1.2 million homes in under 5 years to cater for demand that they have self-engineered – into fast tracking inappropriate development en masse. We dreaded that we could see our future just by looking at Perth like a crystal ball – 150 km of endless suburban sprawl and highway in which the Black Carnaby Cockatoo is being systematically eliminated to fuel our housing/construction Ponzi.
Because, ultimately, even the dual carriageway being proposed to cut through the heart of the Yakamia Forest will never be enough. No amount of new roads, road widening, or any new number of defective, cheaply built housing with a shelf life of 30 years (or under) will ever be enough unless we reimagine whole scale how we approach urban planning and design our communities, or god forbid, rethink our obsession with growth.
I believe the answers for a new approach are there – a clear consensus from everyday people from all walks of life who attended the forum. What we need are councillors who have the bravery and the gumption to put community interest ahead of property developers, who will stand up to the conflict of interests from state and federal governments, and who will demand better from our planners, construction companies, etc. The future of the North Albany District would be as good as place as any to start.
Are any of you up for the challenge?