Hepburn Heights

Statement of Significance

Hepburn Heights has scientific significance for its biodiversity and the habitat it provides to a variety of species. It has aesthetic significance for its natural bush landscape and vegetation, and historic and social significance as the site of natural bushland area retained in the face of development as a result of community action.

Physical Description

Hepburn Heights is comprised of a prominent wooded hill in the south, and the southern and western slopes of a valley in the north. A total of 314 species of flora have been recorded, including 250 native species. The fauna of the area are typical of the jarrah and banksia woodlands of the northern Swan Coastal Plain. The area is fully fenced to ensure fauna is protected, and limestone pathways invite visitors and bush walkers. Interpretive signage provides an overview of the species located within the conservation area.

History

In May 1972 Hepburn Heights land was transferred to the Crown and vested as a ‘C’ Class Reserve. The purpose of Crown Reserve 33286 was for tertiary education (Government Gazette, 6 April 1973.) It was anticipated that a tertiary facility would be built on the site, with considerable bushland left in its natural state. This view was widely held until 1987, when State Planning Minister Bob Pearce announced plans to develop Hepburn Heights Bushland for housing. Following the announcement, concerned community members formed the Hepburn Woodlands Preservation Group. In May 1988, the City of Wanneroo supported the rezoning of Hepburn Heights from Public Purpose to Residential, despite growing community concerns. This was evidenced when Opposition Leader Barry McKinnon presented 12, 928 signatures to State Government opposing development. The City of Wanneroo subsequently revoked its decision in June of the same year, and the matter was referred back to the City’s Town Planning Committee. The petition requested the Government undertake an Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Survey of the bushland, but in July 1988 the EPA noted that there was no environmental reason to prevent development. By July 1989 LandCorp was presenting development options to the Planning Minister, Pam Beggs. In a report leaked to ‘The West Australian’ newspaper in December 1989, Kings Park Board Botanist Kingsley Dixon declared Hepburn Heights Bushland healthier than Kings Park. Dr Dixon went on to comment that the team who had assessed the bushland was impressed with its environmental value and reserve potential. The City of Wanneroo continued to oppose State Government plans to develop the site. The 1990s saw the continued fight by residents for the retention of Hepburn Heights Bushland. Plans for development of the site wavered from Homeswest housing, an aged care facility, and a mosque, while City of Wanneroo Councillors’ admonished State Government for overlooking the site as a potential wildflower tourist attraction. The battle between the State Government and the Wanneroo Council over the validity of amendments to the Metropolitan Region Scheme escalated to such a point that a Supreme Court hearing was scheduled for 20 March 1991. Faced with exorbitant costs, Wanneroo City Council dropped legal action to prevent development. The battle turned to ‘residents versus bulldozers’, with clearing of the Hepburn Heights Bushland commencing in April 1991. Landcorp defends its proposal to turn the bushland into a residential area despite receiving a 15,000 petition against the proposal. Residents gather support from the Conservation Council of WA and botanist Mary White. In December 1991 the National Trust of Australia (WA) classified Hepburn Heights Bushland as important remnant vegetation. A second environmental study was commissioned and forwarded to the Heritage Commission in Canberra. On learning of LandCorp’s decision to commence clearing of the site in 1992, the Australian Heritage Commission stressed the importance of the values of the site to the Government. Environmental consultants Alan Tingay and Associates prepared a management plan to protect the 18.5ha of public open space at Hepburn Heights. The Wanneroo City Council broadly supported the draft management plan when it is released for public comment in June 1993. Years of campaigning to save the site resulted in over 18,000 people signing petitions and protesting the development of the natural bushland at Hepburn Heights. On 22 March 1994 the Hepburn Heights Conservation Area was vested in the City of Wanneroo, subject to LandCorp uniformly fencing the entire Hepburn Heights reserve. The residents of the area demonstrated their commitment to the bush and woodland, in all saving 38% of the Hepburn Heights bushland to be enjoyed by future generations. The ‘Hepburn Heights - Pinnaroo Park Area’ listing in the Australian Heritage Database, Place ID 18055 reads: The site is significant as a transitional zone between the Quindalup dune system and the Cottesloe and Karrakatta divisions of the Spearwood dune system. Naturally vegetated examples of such transitional zones are now increasingly rare on the Swan Coastal Plain due to extensive clearing for urban development. The vegetation of the site is highly diverse. A total of nineteen vegetation association types have been mapped for Hepburn Heights/Pinnaroo Park. The flora of the site is also diverse for an area this size in the Perth metropolitan region. A total of 250 species of native flora have been recorded for the Spearwood dune system areas of Hepburn Heights/Pinnaroo Park alone. The site contains populations of three species of flora of special significance: Ptilotus caespitulotus; Cartonema phyliroides; and, the poorly known species Carpobrotus cg modestus. Several vegetation associations which are limited to limestone outcrops and shallow soil over limestone are found on the site. These include Acacia truncata, Acacia truncata/Dryandra sessilis, and limestone mallet (Eucalyptus decipiens) low woodland. With the urbanisation of the region, the site has become a refuge site for woodland and heath bird species. The site is also likely to form part of a network of feeding, nesting and habitat areas utilised by nomadic and migratory bird species. On 12 January 2000 the vesting was changed from the City of Wanneroo to the City of Joondalup. ‘Bush Forever’ was a strategic plan released in 2000 for the conservation of bushland within the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth Metropolitan Region. A key objective of Bush Forever was to retain the Swan Coastal Plain’s rich biodiversity by protecting, where possible, representative areas of each of the 26 naturally occurring unique vegetation types (called ‘vegetation complexes’) that occur within the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth Metropolitan Region. Hepburn Heights was included in the Whitfords Avenue Bushland Bush Forever Area 303 in 2000. In 2023, the area is a recognised conservation area of 21.7909ha. Fencing ensures fauna is protected, and limestone pathways invite visitors and bush walkers. Interpretive signage provides an overview of the species located within the conservation area.

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