Perth Voice Interactive

PERTH MP Eleni Evangel has hosted a second workshop on addressing antisocial behaviour in Wellington Square.

The workshop was attended by around 40 people, including Aboriginal leaders, WA police, residents and Perth city council staff.

Locals have been concerned about drinking and biffo in the East Perth park for more than a century: as far back as 1910 the council wrote to the commissioner of police calling for more patrols.

PCC city services director Garry Dunne told a council committee many people sleeping in Wellington Square were from the country, visiting for dialysis at nearby Royal Perth Hospital.

Ms Evangel noted a $45.8 million federal grant for the expansion of renal dialysis and support services across regional WA would enable people to be treated closer to home by 2016.

Workshop attendees discussed replacing the existing toilet block—a haven for drug abuse—with self-cleaning toilets.

Recently a plan to help address long-standing antisocial behaviour at Wellington Square was approved by Perth city council.

It included looking at re-engaging the Nyoongar Patrol or a similar service to help people in the park.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK