Perth Voice Interactive

WOOLWORTHS are planning to open a store at the old Bunnings site in Inglewood.

The DIY store, at the corner of Beaufort Street and Eighth Avenue, was razed to the ground by an intense fire in February, and many locals have been waiting for a replacement to be built.

Despite repeated enquiries to Bunnings HQ about the site’s future, we didn’t get an answer about whether it’d be rebuilt.

But Stirling councillor Bianca Sandri recently revealed the city had received a planning application for a Woolworths, liquor store and small shop on the Bunnings site.

It’s still being processed by the city, but once it’s ready you can comment at http://www.yoursay.stirling.wa.gov.au/DA

Because the development is likely to cost more than $10 million, planning approval will rest with the state Development Assessment Panel, consisting of two councillors and three state-appointed planners.

Any development costing above $10 million has to be handled by the DAP. If a development costs between $2 million and $10 million, developers can choose between the DAP or council.

Few choose council, with the DAPs considered more developer-friendly.

In 2016, Aldi purchased the block at the corner of Beaufort and Tenth Avenue, only 110m away.

That project has been slowly working its way through the planning process, but the owners are now advertising for tenants to join Aldi in the building and the real estate agent’s ad states it’s scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2019.

by DAVID BELL

CONSULTATION with Vincent locals over a proposed State Tennis Centre at Robertson Park has gone down like a John McEnroe rant.

Residents say they only got two days’ notice about the December 11 information session held by TennisWest, and of the nine people that showed up, some were unimpressed with the lack of information and accuracy of diagrams.

Vincent local Chris Hair said the centre diagram showed a car park extending into the children’s playground at the park, but TennisWest CEO Michael Roberts said the playground would remain untouched.

Impression

“The artist’s impression was just a guide, it wasn’t to be used as a ‘this is what it’s going to look like’ – it was more of an idea,” Mr Roberts said.

Mr Hair also noted that TennisWest and Vincent council were reluctant to share certain planning information because it was deemed “confidential”.

“The whole thing reeks of secrecy, concealment and a lack of transparency,” Mr Hair told the Voice.

“At the moment we’re facing no freedom of information. It was a bit like the Monty Python dead parrot sketch.”

Mr Roberts said that there was nothing confidential about the Robertson Park site, but other sites under consideration involved sensitive government information.

South Vincent Resident Group chair Mario D’Alonzo was generally supportive of the proposal, but had concerns about community access to the park.

“When you give [the park] to a corporate kind of body, suddenly they’re thinking business case and the whole thinking becomes different,” he said.

“They’ve got to make money, pay for the upkeep of the courts; they’ve got to be more financial.

”It’s not subsidised by the council for the community, it becomes more of a business thing.”

Mr D’Alonzo said if the development remained modest, as presented in the meeting, then the charm and beauty of the park would be marginally affected.

“The trouble is, once a lease is given to the state government, I don’t know how much Vincent can keep track of what happens there. Suddenly there’s a new plan; it gets a bit more technical.”

Another information session is planned for January, and local residents can comment on the proposed tennis centre on the Vincent council website, until January 20.

by SEAN HILL

Dunedin Street residents became the first in Vincent to take advantage of a new council policy that lets them close off their street for a Christmas Party with a great local get-together on December 16. The freshly-minted policy aims to make it easier for residents to hold street parties and mingle with neighbours and build communities.

Applying for a street closure is as simple as checking four boxes online, and rather than residents spending hundreds on a traffic management plan, they can use a template for small, uncomplicated street parties. The street party toolkit is at http://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/openstreets. “Street parties and play streets bring neighbours together and help celebrate community life in Vincent,” says mayor Emma Cole

MORE than 50 Bayswater residents attended their council’s annual electors’ meeting this month.

Residents tabled 14 motions, with 11 making it through to be considered by Bayswater council in the new year, including:

• Near-unanimous support for resident Lazar Radanovich’s motion to save a 60-year-old Kurrajong tree by the Bayswater subway. “This tree is earmarked for destruction as part of the upcoming Metronet Bayswater train station upgrade,” he said. “This tree held pride of place as an entry statement to the Bayswater townsite for several decades, therefore [it’s] worthy of preservation”. He wants it relocated. His motion was carried 57-1.

• Pro-development group Future Bayswater got a number of motions through: chair Paul Shanahan wants the council to get on with implementing the recommendations in its “Building Bayswater” consultation, including 10-storey height limits around the train station. He says it will mitigate tree canopy destruction from the clearing of backyards”. His proposal passed 28-9.

• FB also wants an additional $300,000 in Bayswater’s budget for place making outcomes in the Bayswater town centre, three-phase power in Bert Wright Park for community events, and parking around King William Street and Whatley Crescent to offset bays lost as a result of Metronet. It passed 34-3.

• Steven Ostaszewkyj, who’s been keeping active on the scene since a tilt at council last year, suggested the city plant Australian trees—especially fruit and nut—at the dormant blocks at 59A Grey Street and 45 Ivanhoe Street. Everyone liked the plan and it was carried unopposed.

• A request by Glen Cookson to implement a heritage management strategy” was narrowly lost. It could “improve awareness and foster greater appreciation of the city’s rich and diverse heritage,” he said. It lost 18-21.

After the AGM, mayor Dan Bull told Facebook followers he was chuffed.

“Folks spoke with authority and sophistication, clearly understood their issues, and put relevant points across with passion and respect. Some people won their argument, and some lost. But everyone did so with grace.”

by DAVID BELL

WITH several councils being investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission in recent years, Bayswater council is looking at ways of encouraging whistleblowers to come forward.

Deputy mayor Chris Cornish penned a motion asking the CEO to review their processes to ensure they have a “robust, transparent and fair whistleblowing process”.

“It’s all about implementing pretty much the best whistleblowing process that exists in the state,” said Cr Cornish at the December 11 council meeting.

He emphasised “no one likes to think impropriety is happening within an organisation they’re associated with, and I personally have no suspicion that anything untoward is occurring here”.

But he told colleagues “it does occur” in many organisations, “and whistleblowing is how things are discovered. The banking royal commission came about as a result of whistleblowers. Before that the North Metro Health scandal came about because of whistleblowers.”

Cr Cornish says they ought have a culture where “every single person is empowered to speak up,” and it should run from induction through to the exit interview.

Accusations

He said the details were still to be worked out, but his preference is for councillors to be made aware of “improper accusations that have been made”.

Cr Elli Petersen-Pik said change was needed.

“I’m not happy with the current process, which defines the CEO as the complaints officer. I think this needs to be someone outside the city, and someone neutral,” he said.

“I think this is one of those issues that we as a council can actually have, and should have, strong input into what’s happening in the city.

“As councillors, we do not have a clue what happens at the officer level, so we should ensure that there are processes to investigate any issues that might occur that we probably would not hear about.”

Currently minor misconduct can be reported either to the CEO, or direct to the Public Sector Commission. Serious misconduct is referred to the CCC.

The City of Perth uses an ombudsman, who is not an employee, to handle some complaint appeals.

Currently Perth council is suspended and in the midst of a CCC investigation.

Bayswater has not been in front of the CCC since 2009, when two staffers were found guilty of misconduct over some dodgy tenders.

Stirling had its own run in with the CCC over a major tender scandal that ran for several years, and resulted in one accused employee committing suicide before his hearing.

by DAVID BELL

IT’S a boring version of the warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark – a huge depot crammed with  Baysy council’s unused office furniture.

At the December council meeting, resident Steven Ostaszewskyj said the furniture sitting in torpor is “property of the ratepayers” and “just completely forgotten about”, yet he says the council keeps buying furniture.

He wanted to know the value of the items in the warehouse on the corner of King and Raymond Streets, but couldn’t get an answer, so he brought it up at the AGM.

He asked if the council had an inventory – they don’t – so he moved they do a comprehensive stocktake.

He said at the AMG: “People are concerned where our rates are going and how the money is spent.

“From what I have seen it is a large warehouse space filled with furniture; each year the city spends money on new furniture.

“The amount of furniture going into this warehouse is more that the amount of furniture going out.”

The motion to take stock was carried 43-1. Mr Ostaszewsky said “we need to know what is in this location and what the value of these items are. Then we can determine how to deal with them”.

by DAVID BELL

YOUNG artists will be showcasing their expressions of suicide awareness and mental health at YMCA HQ’s art gallery in Leederville until January 10.

Using audio, visual and written art, the exhibition is one of the community programs run by Project Y aiming to raise awareness through art. It comes under the umbrella of Base@Belmont.

The 25 artworks will be viewable Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, with a little break between Christmas Day and New Years Day.

STIRLING council is lobbying the state government to take part in a one-for-one tree-planting trial on median strips and schools in the city.

This month council wrote to the government requesting that they match trees planted by the city on a section of median strip on Reid Highway, and on Takari Primary School in Balcatta.

In October Stirling mayor Mark Irwin voiced his concern about tree loss on state-controlled land, including schools and freeways, due to public works.

Cr Andrew Guilfoyle is hoping the one-for-one scheme will be eventually extended to all state-owned schools and median strips in the city, as it has lost 1.2 million sqm of tree canopy over the last six years.

“If the trial works the city gets more free trees to help reach its 18 per cent tree canopy target,” he says.

“We know even if the city planted all its verge and parks and reserves spaces by 2030, it wouldn’t have enough spaces to plant to reach the 18 per cent target. The target requires more spaces.”

However city officers are concerned that the one-for-one scheme would reduce the amount of trees planted on residents’ verges, and about the complexities of planting trees on state-owned land, including them being removed before the end of their natural life.

Cr Guilfoyle says that no residents would miss out in a “budget neutral” scheme and that data shows that abut 22 per cent of people don’t want trees on their verge anyway.

He also notes that trees on median strips are less likely to be targeted.

“There is quite a high attrition rate, like removal, poisoning, damage on trees planted on our verges and in our parks and reserves.

“I would expect this rate of attrition is higher than would happen on state government land such as schools and median strips.”

MOST folk who know the bubbly, chuckling priest Fr Francis Mary would barely recognised him as he swapped his usual brown robes for some a tad brighter – the cherry red of Santa. He says the experience has shown him that the magic of Santa is real, for every girl and boy.

BEING Santa has been most wonderful.

I went into the experience for the second time knowing that it would be fun at some level but not fully realising the commitment it is to each and every child, and I mean every child.

I mean Santa really does exist.

He, and I  must say “he”, Santa is not a woman.

Santa is a slightly overweight man, with sparkling eyes, a red Santa suit, black boots and a happy, jolly smile, who actually does ho ho and ho.

He is a laughable creature, generous in both his girth, smile and wit.

Santa comes to visit us on a yearly basis and to give out the Naughty or Nice sticker.

He also doles out red-striped candy cane.

Naughty gets you coal, or spuds, nice gets you a lovely lot of gifts.

They are delivered by Santa on Christmas Eve, so you had better be in bed, asleep, if possible.

He is, on this night of nights, a little timid.

His reindeer do their best to cart him all over the world with his gifts of happiness.

Hopefully he will find you.

Leave him some milk and cookies and a carrot for the reindeer. Reindeer food, if you have any.

I was asked by many a child, “Are you the real Santa?”

And of course, with a twinkle in my eye and a wink, I said “Yes, I am the real Santa.”

What makes me real?

Well, I actually am very close to this wonderful Santa character. I actually am a little overweight, I do smile a lot, I do laugh more than most, and I am joyful, cheeky and a bit magical.

This can be the nature of many an old man.

We do not have to be Grumpy Old Men.

So, if you are feeling that you’re heading towards the grumpy old part, head on down to the Santa school and start being Santa.

Children on the whole are wise, beautiful, generous, not selfish, sweet, wiggling little creatures who bring delight to their parents, friends and all those who stand back and watch them for a moment, sitting on Santa’s knee.

So, to those of you who do not believe that I exist, it is just that you are unable to see me.

This magic is in the eyes of the children, for they still know that magic exists in the world and they have the ability, insight, and wisdom to see it.

So, become a little child again, if only for a moment, and experience the Magic of Christmas.

Love, and Merry Christmas to every girl and boy, from a REAL SANTA.

Decorations are going up on Beaufort Street ahead of Saturday night’s (December 22) inaugural Christmas parade and markets, starting 6.30pm.

Pictured are festival collaborators Beaufort Street Network chair Joshua O’Keefe and Vincent mayor Emma Cole, hanging decorations at the parade’s starting line, the Mary Street Piazza.