Huge turnout at Hands off Hall Park rally, Mandurah CEO speaks out

Over 600 people gathered at Mandurah's western foreshore on Sunday, fighting to save Hall Park from a proposed commercial development.

The Hands Off Hall Park rally was attended by hundreds of residents along with some Mandurah councillors, Member for the South West Steve Thomas and several state election candidates.

Rallygoers want Hall Park to remain an A-class reserve and put an end to plans of a microbrewery, mini-golf course and chocolate factory.

Rally organiser Amanda Giblett said she was blown away by Sunday's numbers.

"It was amazing to see the community come together, who value and understand how important it is, in this day and age, we need to retain our green spaces," she said.

"Can you imagine going down to Hall Park to clear your head, to listen to the sounds of the birds and be presented with a brewery."

Ms Giblett said the message was clear.

"It's about retaining our A-class reserve. This land was gifted back in 1953 by the Adam family and Victor Adam at the time thought really, really hard to ensure this land remained for the community as a green space.

"Our message has not changed, this park needs to be retained as an A-class reserve."

Ms Giblett said the fight continues.

"Steve Thomas is running a parliamentary petition for us and that will be presented to the Upper House once parliament returns after the State election," she said.

Speaking to ABC Perth radio, City of Mandurah CEO Casey Mihovilovich said there will be plenty of green space remaining after the development.

"Amanda was talking about the A-class reserve but it's important to recognise that things do change and the portion of the A-class (reserve) that we're proposing to excise has already been used for commercial purposes," she said.

"We know that the community value the open grassed areas, there's still going to be around 55,000 square metres of grassed area.

"There's an extra 1400 square metres that this proposal will take up on top of what King Carnival already is.

"But also please remember nearly two thirds of that space is the mini-golf landscaping and the tree canopy and the reason why we needed to increase the space was because we value the trees so much that now the golf course has to intertwine and go through the tree canopy."

Ms Mihovilovich said the City will be moving forward with the proposal.

"It is a long process in relation to excising an A-class reserve, it does have to go to the State Government for approval but at the moment my direction is to continue to proceed," she said.

"I've had hundreds of conversations with members of the community - business groups, residents association, the RSL- and there are people that are also for this proposal."

Two motions will be presented at the next council meeting on February 25.

The first calls on the Council to rescind its previous decision to go ahead with the development and a vote be retaken and the second for proper consultation to take place with the Aboriginal community if the first motion is moved.

"Council will now decide if it supports that motion at its next council meeting on February 25, and if they do, it would effectively put an end to the Western Foreshore development," Mandurah Mayor Caroline Knight said in a Facebook post last week.

More information on the western foreshore development can be found here.