Photo opportunity safety concerns leads local to offer portion of picturesque Porongurup property

Road safety concerns have prompted a Porongurup man to offer part of his picturesque property to the Shire of Plantagenet for a rest stop on Porongurup Road.

Jack Shiner said he saw cars pull over on the road’s narrow verges every week when they caught a glimpse of the “amazing view” of the Porongurup Range.

Mr Shiner, whose main business is selling native seeds to mine site rehabilitation projects, said he thought it was inevitable that someone would be “bowled over” if nothing changed.

“People would be parked on the side of the road with their doors open and trucks coming and going, I’d be thinking this might not end well,” he said.

From the roadside in front of his property, near the intersection of Porongurup and Woodlands roads, Gibraltar Rock and Angwin Peak make for an eye-catching vista.

Mr Shiner said he did not mind tourists using the start of his driveway as a place to take photos because it was one of the rare opportunities to see the ancient granite outcrops without obstruction.

He approached the Shire with his offer at a council workshop in June.

“My first thoughts were for safety, but also it can help promote tourism — it could become an information bay or it could become a turnaround or pick-up point for a school bus,” he said.

“They could have a hectare if they want it, but basically I’ve said they can take as much as they need.

“I’ve told them to maybe take a bit more than what they want at the moment just in case they need to extend it in the future.”

They could have a hectare if they want it, but basically I’ve said they can take as much as they need.

Mr Shiner’s offer will be put to councillors at Tuesday’s ordinary meeting.

Staff have prepared a report that recommends accepting the offer then applying to the WA Planning Commission for the 6240sqm corner of Mr Shiner’s property to be included in the adjacent road reserve.

The recommendation would also authorise the chief executive to start consultation with Mt Barker Tourism, the Porongurup Progress Association and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions in relation to a signage and interpretation plan.

Shire president Chris Pavlovich said if councillors accepted the offer as recommended it would allow the Shire to create a public asset.

“There are no parking spots between the two town sites and people travel through there because it’s a tourist route,” he said.

“A lot people stop to get photos of the canola with the Stirlings or the Porongurups as a backdrop and they pull off willy-nilly anywhere.

“This landowner has volunteered to give up some of his land to provide those sorts of opportunities.

“How often would you get that?”