Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER residents have questioned why an area of their town centre shown as leafy green in Metronet’s concept plans for the new train station has ended up barren concrete and paving.

Metronet insists it has lots of plantings to come shortly – more trees than it took out to build the new station, which is the first stage of the proposed Morley-Ellenbrook line and connects to the completed Forrestfield-Airport link.

But Bayswater deputy mayor Elli Petersen-Pik can’t see how the area in front of the post office and IGA on Whatley Crescent can be greened up, given no gaps were left in the paving.

“They have put in some garden beds at the bottom of the hill, closer to the road, but there’s nothing along the footpath,” Cr Petersen-Pik said.

“We are struggling with the developments of the 70s and 80s and we can’t do anything about the difficulties they create, but this was a brand new development.

“The whole town centre requires more trees, especially around the station – that’s what was promised and is shown on the concept plan.

“There’s space for trees, they can still do it,” he said.

Cr Petersen-Pik said he wasn’t alerted to any stepping back from the greener concept plans, and said it was disappointing for business owners who’ve put up with major disruptions during the construction work, only to be left with a drab result.

Bayswater Deserves Better shared a post by Cr Petersen-Pik on the topic amongst its members, generating a string of gripes about the lack of greenery.

“You nailed it,” BDB member Tessa Hopkins said.

“Baysie town centre is a barren desert of concrete.

“I asked Metronet if they’ll be making planting holes in the many metres of footpath paving, and in the new fully concreted median strips, but they didn’t provide a response. 

“It’s bad enough that the state government steamrolled the community and council to approve high rise apartment blocks in our town centre, the heritage heart. 

“But building a super-sized train, bus and car junction without the opportunity for any trees? 

“A local town centre destroyed and a local community gaslighted. Too much collateral damage.”

A spokesperson for Metronet said landscaping and revegetation were due to occur when majority of the structural works for the new station were completed.

“Within the station precinct and town centre, a variety of 174 trees of various sizes will be planted, including 100L, 200L, 500L and 1000L to 1500L, which are typically 2.5m to 5m tall trees,” they said in a statement.

“The planting will include 16,000 species planted within 4,300 square metres of new garden beds.

“There will be a focus on planting in the station precinct and surrounding locations including Railway Parade and Whatley Crescent between Hotham Street bridge to Station, and Whatley Crescent from Station to East of Cobden Street. 

“Trees planted will incorporate water-sensitive urban design principals and include rain gardens. 

“Metronet has worked closely with the City of Bayswater to determine tree planting locations outside the main station precinct along the rail corridor.

“A mixture of irrigated and non-irrigated trees will be planted in the space along the rail corridor.”

by STEVE GRANT