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Youth push at Smiths Beach

17 Jan 2001

By Kate Gauntlett The West Australian

Young people are leading the fight against coastal development at Smiths Beach near Yallingup.

Liz Miller, 15, has been spending family holidays at Smiths Beach for as long as she can remember.

When she heard about the proposed major development, she got to work.

"I want the next generation to see what we are able to," she said. "Once you change it, you can't go back."

Under the development proposal, Canal Rocks Pty Ltd has planned 230 residential lots, 460 holiday units, an outdoor festival area, village and community centre, upgraded coastal paths and public parking.

Walking around Fremantle one day in December with friend Noni Cubitt, 15, the two Penhros College students managed to get 75 signatures against the development.

Liz's sister Jenny, a 19-year-old viticulture student, offered her help.

"Smiths Beach is such a naturally beautiful place, pristine, unique - people go there to get away from suburbia," Jenny said.

Jenny distributed a new petition at several surf stores. In one week, they got 1300 signatures, mainly from young people. Liz's activist role will reach a new level when she addresses a rally, including Greens (WA) MLC Christine Sharp, at Smiths Beach at 10am on January 27.

Melia Brent-White, 20, heads the Smiths Beach action group.

The developers say tourists and residents will be catered for by the development.

Canal Rocks chairman David McKenzie said the plan represented 15 years of extensive community consultation and workshops. It would involve extensive conservation and revegetation initiatives to minimise the development's impact.

© Copyright 2001 by West Australian Newspapers Ltd. This report is for information only. No charge for such use is made and the material is not being used for commercial purposes. The text has not been modified from the original report.

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