Why Ignoring Basic Science in Perth Development Puts Our Future at Risk

In my years as a GP, I learned a simple truth: if you ignore the diagnosis, the patient gets sicker. You cannot cure a systemic failure by applying a bandage to the symptoms. Yet, this is exactly what we are seeing with the latest plans for the North Ellenbrook development.

This week in the Legislative Council, we debated a motion to disallow a major amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme. While the rhetoric from the major parties focused on the undeniable need for more housing, they remained strangely silent on the environmental and geological reality staring us in the face. The evidence was clear. The government ignored it.

The hidden danger beneath our feet

We are not just talking about bureaucracy. We are talking about a fundamental misunderstanding of our land. The proposed site features duplex soil, a thin veneer of sand sitting over an impermeable clay layer. When we clear the trees and replace soft surfaces with concrete and bitumen, the water has nowhere to go. It does not sink into the ground. Instead, it travels sideways, flooding neighbouring agricultural land, drowning established trees, and threatening the structural integrity of future homes. We have seen this disaster unfold already in the Swan Valley, where families are now trapped in a cycle of waterlogging, toxic mould, and ruined livelihoods.

It feels like a slow-moving catastrophe. Governments are often quick to point to the need for new homes, but they are remarkably slow to admit that the land they have chosen might be entirely unsuitable for the drainage strategies they insist on using. This is the sinking feeling when you open a bill for damage that never should have occurred.

Are you interested in seeing the evidence for yourself? I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I break down the science of these issues and share updates on how we are fighting for common sense in our state planning.

A choice between speed and stability

While the major parties play politics, we look at the evidence. The government suggests that these flooding issues are unique to the Swan Valley and will not happen further north. Yet, their own geological data suggests the soil profiles are almost identical. We are being asked to trust that things will be different this time, despite the absence of any credible scientific backing for that hope. This isn't just about planning; it is about protecting the life savings of thousands of families who deserve to move into homes that won't succumb to subsidence or mould within a decade.

We called for a simple, sensible pause. Not an end to development, but a moment to breathe, review the data, and ensure that our drainage solutions actually work for our unique landscape. The government chose to rush ahead, ignoring the warnings of hydrologists and the desperate pleas of those already living through the consequences of poor planning.

We must demand better. Our future cannot be built on a foundation of denial. If you agree that we need a government that prioritises evidence-based, sustainable planning, I invite you to join our movement for a smarter, more compassionate Western Australia at Legalise Cannabis WA.