Could State Administrative Tribunal case be developer Nigel Satterley’s last stand in Stoneville saga?

Land developer Nigel Satterley may take the stand in court as part of the 30-year bid to build a community at Stoneville. Mr Satterley is calling on the State Administrative Tribunal to overturn an earlier decision not to allow the 1400 homes in the Perth Hills estate. The developer’s plans were last knocked back in 2023, on the grounds they they did not properly mitigate against the risk of bushfires. In the latest development, lawyers for Mr Satterley are now pinning their case on a promise to build a bushfire shelter for those who cannot evacuate. The case will be heard over the next three-and-a-half weeks. Mr Satterley on Tuesday declined to comment but revealed he may be called on to address the courtroom. But critics claim the shelter would not be able to accommodate everyone. They also point to traffic flow problems. Some Stoneville residents are still reeling from the catastrophic 2014 fire that razed 57 homes. In 2020, Mr Satterley told The West Australian he would not give up on the estate after the WA Planning Commission rejected his company’s structure plan for 1400 homes, two schools and a community centre. But Mr Satterley said at the time that the proposed town site was fully compliant with the zoning of the land and consistent with the long-term plans of both the WAPC and local council. The Stoneville community plan, lodged in February 2023, attracted 29 supporters and 2471 objections. Urbanisation attempts on the North Stoneville land — owned by the Anglican Church — have been in the works since 1991, making it the longest-running development battle in Perth’s history. The 555ha at the proposed site is 155ha bigger than Kings Park.