Perth Voice Interactive

Paving paradise
I READ with interest and concern that the City of Bayswater is interested in buying land for a carpark to serve Eight Avenue precinct shops (Voice, April 18, 2015).
Given Mayor Sylvan Albert and Councillor John Rifici own land in the precinct, they should not be involved in any council deliberations or decisions (directly or indirectly) regarding land purchase because of a conflict of interest.
Furthermore, if there is a parking shortage in Eight Avenue, why did the city approve the four-level mixed-use development (Sullivans on Eight) on a former car park (opposite Rifo’s).
Catherine Ehrhardt from the Maylands Markets is right—to solve the parking problem we need more people to get out of their car or car-share; in the meantime, improving the environment for walking and cycling may help, and this would be a lot less expensive than buying land for cars.
Greg Smith
Rose Ave, Bayswater

Markets thanks
THE Maylands Ratepayers and Residents Association would like to thank Local Area Community Enterprise for arranging and organising a very successful Maylands Hawkers Markets at the RISE.
Our members spoke to many people at the markets—they came from all over Bayswater area and fom as far away as Midland and Mandurah.
There was a great community spirit. We look forward to LACE organising another markets at the RISE starting, we hope, in October
Roger Tomlins
Maylands Ratepayers and Residents Association

Bus lanes the better option
IT is so disappointing the Vincent council and mayor have withheld support for bus lanes to be constructed on Fitzgerald Street (Voice, May 6, 2015).
I have always had concerns about the proposed light rail project because of its huge $2 billion cost and its limited benefits. In my view the only way to bring about a widespread and rapid reduction in car use is to implement a comprehensive network of bus lanes on major roads throughout Perth.
These could be constructed in a much shorter timeframe and at a fraction of the cost. For example, 800km of bus lanes could be constructed for the amount previously allocated to the MAX project.
The bus lane proposal on Fitzgerald Street will benefit Vincent residents by making bus trips into and out of the city much quicker and the disruption and destruction from the construction phase will be far less than a light rail project.
Council should not only support the current proposal, it should be requesting that bus lanes be introduced on the other main roads in the city. As for the description of the bus lanes as being “cheap and nasty”, well yes they aren’t expensive—but is this a problem?
As for being nasty, bus lanes are a very similar concept to the bike lanes presently being installed on various roads within the City of Vincent, and they are seemingly much-lauded.
Andrew Main
Alfonso St, North Perth

Plaza units a safety concern
I AM writing as I am concerned about the proposed seven-storey, 163 multiple dwellings unit for central Dianella.
My main worries are:
1.  Lack of publicity: I regularly walk to the Dianella Plaza shops, and only noticed a sign, advising of this development, on the side fence in Chester Street. This is not a prominent position. I am sure many locals would not be happy with this plan. I think the City of Stirling should advertise this more prominently and survey the existing rate payers on their opinions.
2.  Safety of residents: I am a retiree with grandchildren, and regularly walk to the plaza with my trolley and handbag. Many others do the same, with zimmer-frames, walking sticks and gophers.  The plan states this development will encourage a more diverse range of lifestyle and income levels
Sadly, this diverse group [could well] contain religious groups, who treat women as inferior; drug addicts, who rob grandmothers to support their habit; other unsavoury groups. The proposed site is opposite a primary school. Who is going to ensure we are all safe? With the proximity of shops and transport, the site would be ideal for an over-55s development. This would take pressure off nursing homes.
Michele Chadbourne
Grand Prom, Dianella

Mallets drawn
BAYSWATER croquet club treasurer Trevor Ashby has good reason to be “very disappointed” having seen the “masterplan” for Frank Drago Reserve (Voice, April 18, 2015).
The lawn for croquet should be extended rather than reduced. The revamp is expected to be complete by 2019. By then there’ll be many more age pensioners and seniors seeking  appropriate activities.
When golf and tennis, for example, take too much effort, then croquet becomes a logical next challenge that calls for a competitive spirit allied with exercise of body and mind. Pressures of our day should not be allowed to override vision. Mallets are needed to nudge the “masterplan”.
Leo Salt
Bay View St, Bayswater