Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER council is looking into buying part of the wetland next to the Eric Singleton bird sanctuary to prevent any more clearing for houses.

A press release from mayor Barry McKenna says the council is investigating “all options” to try and save the wetland which is adjacent to a proposed sub-division already partly cleared by the family of former mayor John D’Orazio.

Mr McKenna says if the council decides to buy the land at lot 14 King William Street, which is owned by the Carter family, it will ask the Barnett government for a contribution.

Buffer option

Another option it’s exploring is whether a buffer can be imposed to protect the site, although a similar request on the adjacent subdivision was knocked back by the WA planning commission.

“We’ll also be asking for [state government] support to declare lot 14, 128 King William Street as a planning control area for wetland conservation,” Mr McKenna says.

If the council purchases the block, it will throw a spanner in the works for the D’Orazio development, as its access was reliant on a cul-de-sac to be built there.

Meanwhile The Lorax has visited the wetlands in a bid to halt the D’Orazio development.

Greg Smith from the Bayswater Urban Tree Network already spends a lot of time speaking for trees, but took it one step further on the weekend by dressing up as the Dr Suess character and dying his flowing hair and beard bright orange.

The town planner held up a banner at the Avon Descent finishing line, imploring people to sign a petition against the development. The petition is also available at the No Houses in Wetlands Facebook group.

The Lorax spent the day chatting with people about the frogs, turtles and birds in the wetlands and explaining what kids could do to save the few remaining wetlands along the Swan coastal plain.

Bayswater CEO Francesca Lefante has defended not telling councillors about a second offer from the Carter family to sell its block in 2013, saying that although the price had been reduced the council had unanimously knocked back a previous offer.

“While hindsight is a great thing, it must be remembered that there was no state government WAPC approval to subdivide the land until 2016 when the commission approved 27 lots on the adjoining land (130 King William Street), and two cul-de-sac heads on 128 King William Street,” Ms Lefante said.

There’s also been talk that the city’s finances were in better shape in 2013 so a purchase could’ve been more feasible a second time around.

Ms Lefante says “while it is true that the city’s finances had been boosted in 2013 by the sale of the Brabham land in the City of Swan, the proceeds were used to replenish severely depleted reserves that had funded an extensive capital works program in previous years”.

by DAVID BELL

A NEW $26 million apartment complex on Bennett Street, East Perth is part of Foundation Housing’s plan to increase the amount of affordable housing in Perth.

The 10-storey building includes 70 new self-contained one-bedroom and studio apartments.

“This is a very important step for ensuring that those who are often the most vulnerable in our community can live independently in housing that is affordable and safe”, said Foundation Housing CEO Kathleen Gregory.

Last year, Homeswest reported to Parliament it took on average 158 weeks to get eligible people into one of its properties, and Foundation Housing hopes private community housing can fill the gap.

“Some people see it as opposition to state housing, but I see it as complementary”, says Foundation Housing former founding director Terry Maller.

Mr Maller, now retired and a tenant of the not-for-profit organisation, says it has the same eligibility criteria as Homeswest, but trims down the bureaucracy so service delivery is more efficient.

“I deal with my issues in the office, who deal with 110 tenants, but the state housing deals with thousands of tenants.”

Tenants are a combination of people from the social housing waitlist and other low income backgrounds.

The Bennett Street complex was launched on Tuesday August 2 by housing minister Colin Holt.

by TRILOKESH CHANMUGAM

TELETHON is up for another year of support from the Perth council which has approved almost $100,000 for the event.

The biggest telethon in the world by capita, the Channel 7 event will get a $40,000 cash donation, discount parking at the convention centre worth $49,425 and $7759 worth of council staff time and other in-kind support.

Telethon has raised more than $204 million since it’s inception in 1968.

A report from staff says Telethon is Perth’s premier charity event and parking discounts won’t be available to others.

At the same meeting the council approved $269,315 for this year’s Perth Fashion Festival.

Festival organisers had sought more than $359,000, but a six-member panel of council staff deemed that excessive for a predominantly ticketed event.

“The city’s policy of no longer accepting tickets has been included in the reduction of the sponsorship amount,” a report said

THE 130-year-old family home of Australia’s first woman parliamentarian is in line to be demolished to make way for a seven-storey hotel.

Plans for the $10 million hotel at 31 Malcolm Street, West Perth were presented to Perth council’s design panel last week, with the owners of the property arguing the existing building, which was home to Edith Cowan and her husband James, is in “poor condition” and unoccupied.

Cowan took office in 1921 and earned a reputation as a philanthropist and powerful advocate for women, children and prostitutes, and today her face is on the $50 note.

The house was put up for listing in 2006 but the owners, Messrs F and CC Cardaci, objected and it was dropped by then-lord mayor Peter Nattrass and councillors Rob Butler, Janet Davidson, Eleni Evangel (now Perth MP), Chris Hardy, Max Kay (now president of the National Trust), Michael Sutherland (now Mt Lawley MP), Judy McEvoy, and current lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi.

Edith Cowan University vice chancellor Steve Chapman supports retaining the property. “Edith Cowan worked tirelessly to improve conditions for women, children and the poor and she believed education played a key role in this improvement. She was also Australia’s first female parliamentarian. As such, her home has immense historical, social and cultural value to WA and it should be retained.

“ECU takes this view following our decision to help save Edith Cowan’s cottage at 71 Malcolm Street from demolition, and it’s relocation in 1996 to our Joondalup Campus.”

Meanwhile young planner Matthew Rogers and Stuart Doran from Perth Urbanist have started up a petition at http://www.perthurbanist.com/edith-cowan-house-petition calling on heritage minister Albert Jacob to block full demolition of the property.

“We strongly support a property owner’s right to develop on their land, however given that this site carries cultural and historical significance to many, we ask that other development avenues be explored such as retention of various heritage elements of the building,” the petition letter reads.

The project’s price just comes under the threshold to be determined by the state’s development assessment panel, so any future development approval will go to Perth councillors for a decision.

by DAVID BELL

BAYSWATER council is to privatise management of the Mertome retirement village.

The city wants a private aged care operator to take over the operation and redevelopment of Mertome, saying it’s in the best interests of the residents.

Mayor Barry McKenna says the 50-year-old centre’s ageing and needs updating, but the council doesn’t have the staff or resources for the job.

“Operating a retirement village in today’s legislative environment is increasingly complex and local governments are not best positioned to be able to deliver that kind of service.

“We have looked in depth at a range of options and seeking a reputable, well qualified aged care operator represents the best way forward.”

Bayswater council will remain owner of the property.

There wasn’t unanimous agreement on what to do with Mertome, as a consultant had recommended selling it off entirely, which is supported by Cr Catherine Ehrhardt.

The consultant reckons the new operator wouldn’t be keen on pouring money into capital works when it would have to hand back the building at the end of its lease.

Crs John Rifici, Michelle Sutherland and Chris Cornish agreed with selling it off, but they were outvoted.

Instead the new owner will be given a “long term lease” to be agreed on, and will have to guarantee existing residents’ rights will be protected.

Vincent council’s facing a similar conundrum at Leederville Gardens courtesy of a deal signed by the previous administration.

Some seniors are reportedly unhappy with Vincent’s management, others are intent on keeping the council around. But CEO Len Kosova reckons the council isn’t the best body for the job and the private and not-for-proper sector is better placed to run facility.

by DAVID BELL