❓ Asks about additions to Bush Forever and Metropolitan Regional Park system, and actions taken to protect biodiversity after abandoning the Strategic Assessment of Perth and Peel Regions.
AnsweredQoN 689Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) The South West Region of Western Australia (WA) is one of only two internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots in Australia, and one of only 36 in the world. Noting the need to protect this internationally significant biodiversity, how many sites, by number and hectare, have been added to Bush Forever and the Metropolitan Regional Park system in the following years:(a) 2020;(b) 2021;(c) 2022;(d) 2023;(e) 2024; and(f) 2025 to date?(2) Since the Government abandoned the
Strategic Assessment of the Perth and Peel Regions, which aimed to set aside
land for biodiversity conservation, what action have the WA Government taken to
protect the remnants of this unique biodiversity before it is further impacted
by urban sprawl and development?
(1) The South West Region of Western Australia (WA) is one of only two internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots in Australia, and one of only 36 in the world. Noting the need to protect this internationally significant biodiversity, how many sites, by number and hectare, have been added to Bush Forever and the Metropolitan Regional Park system in the following years:
(a) 2020;
(b) 2021;
(c) 2022;
(d) 2023;
(e) 2024; and
(f) 2025 to date?
(2) Since the Government abandoned the
Strategic Assessment of the Perth and Peel Regions, which aimed to set aside
land for biodiversity conservation, what action have the WA Government taken to
protect the remnants of this unique biodiversity before it is further impacted
by urban sprawl and development?
Strategic Assessment of the Perth and Peel Regions, which aimed to set aside
land for biodiversity conservation, what action have the WA Government taken to
protect the remnants of this unique biodiversity before it is further impacted
by urban sprawl and development?
(1) The South West Region of Western Australia (WA) is one of only two internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots in Australia, and one of only 36 in the world. Noting the need to protect this internationally significant biodiversity, how many sites, by number and hectare, have been added to Bush Forever and the Metropolitan Regional Park system in the following years:
(a) 2020;
(b) 2021;
(c) 2022;
(d) 2023;
(e) 2024; and
(f) 2025 to date?
(2) Since the Government abandoned the
Strategic Assessment of the Perth and Peel Regions, which aimed to set aside
land for biodiversity conservation, what action have the WA Government taken to
protect the remnants of this unique biodiversity before it is further impacted
by urban sprawl and development?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 November 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Planning and Lands
Response time
8 days
(1-2) Bush Forever and the Metropolitan Regional Park system only apply to the Perth Metropolitan Area. The following sites have been added since 2020:
(a) 2020: 32 sites – 271.7 hectares were added to the Bush Forever program.
(b) 2021: 1 site – 24.4 hectares was added to the Metropolitan Regional Park System.
(c) 2022: 1 site – 0.46 hectares was added to the Bush Forever program.
(d) 2023: 1 site – 18.48 hectares was added to the Metropolitan Regional Park system.
(e) 2024: Nil.
(f) 2025: 1 site – 4.22 hectares was added to the Bush Forever program.
All proposed clearing of native vegetation is assessed against legislated principles within the Environmental Protection Act 1986 which considers biodiversity, conservation values, land degradation and water quality.
The State Government is delivering numerous initiatives under the Native Vegetation Policy for Western Australia include the Swan Canning Riverpark Urban Forest program, which has restored 27 hectares and planted over 500,000 native plants; the $3.3 million WAVE pilot to track vegetation change using Artificial Intelligence; and new urban greening efforts such as the WA Tree Recovery Program, Treebate, and the State’s first ever Urban Greening Strategy.
(a) 2020: 32 sites – 271.7 hectares were added to the Bush Forever program.
(b) 2021: 1 site – 24.4 hectares was added to the Metropolitan Regional Park System.
(c) 2022: 1 site – 0.46 hectares was added to the Bush Forever program.
(d) 2023: 1 site – 18.48 hectares was added to the Metropolitan Regional Park system.
(e) 2024: Nil.
(f) 2025: 1 site – 4.22 hectares was added to the Bush Forever program.
All proposed clearing of native vegetation is assessed against legislated principles within the Environmental Protection Act 1986 which considers biodiversity, conservation values, land degradation and water quality.
The State Government is delivering numerous initiatives under the Native Vegetation Policy for Western Australia include the Swan Canning Riverpark Urban Forest program, which has restored 27 hectares and planted over 500,000 native plants; the $3.3 million WAVE pilot to track vegetation change using Artificial Intelligence; and new urban greening efforts such as the WA Tree Recovery Program, Treebate, and the State’s first ever Urban Greening Strategy.
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