Perth Voice Interactive

THE scuffing feet of thousands of Pokemon Go players is causing havoc at Kings Park.

While the ridiculously popular app has been a boon to businesses and helped dragged gen-yers off the couch and into daylight, newly planted garden beds and grass where Pokemon characters “gather” are being trampled to death.

Thousands are flocking to Kings Park day and night, causing authorities to rope of large sections of grass and issue a plea for players to take their rubbish with them.

While virtual monsters don’t care about litter, the park’s home to 100 native animal species in the park from birds to spiders that don’t appreciate cans of energy drink and Cheetos packets being tossed into their home.

The park authority’s also banned cars stopping along Fraser Avenue because of the jams caused by players desperate to snag an adorable Dratini. The Chook’s photographer said there was also a fug of cigarette smoke in popular Poke stops to counter any benefits of being outdoors.

Describing the players’ behaviour as “unusual”, the authority says mass displays of pink everlastings, which have only recently germinated and are a big drawcard for the wildflower season, have been affected.

About 1000sqm of turf has been damaged and roped off, with the worst affected areas needing to be replaced and the rest given a top-dressing of sand.

The grass is expected to recover by October, however the garden beds may take up to a year.

Crossing roads

The KPBA has asked Pokemon players to stick to footpaths, keep out of the garden beds, watch out while crossing roads and not to disturb others trying to pay their respects at the park’s memorials.

Even the federal government’s issued a safety edict: The Stay Smart Online initiative has sent out a “moderate” priority alert noting that Pokemon Go players have been involved in near misses between pedestrians and cars, people are playing while driving, while crowds of players in Sydney were waterbombed by angsty residents tired of the noise.

Players have responded to the anti-grognards by circulating memes pointing out that for years people have been telling nerds to go outside, and now they finally have gone outside everyone’s telling them “yes, but not like that!”

It sounds like some of the Kings Park staff have had their fill: Lisa Sheppard left a one star review on the Kings Park Facebook page stating: “The grumpy old man from the information centre needs to check his temper. We understand the sudden influx of people at the moment probably brings with it a certain amount of trouble makers, but to bellow angrily at a couple of six year olds for stepping in the wrong spot is unacceptable. Take your anger out on someone your own size or at least someone who’s doing something wrong intentionally. We left the park with the kindest, soft-hearted little boy in tears. You sir, are a horrible person!”

Park authorities are looking into the brisk ticking off.

by DAVID BELL

NEWLY minted Perth Labor MP Tim Hammond has walked straight into federal Labor’s shadow cabinet.

Mr Hammond has been given three assistant shadow ministries by Opposition leader Bill Shorten.

Mr Hammond will answer directly to Mr Shorten in the digital economy and startups portfolio, and joins fellow Sandgroper Kim Carr with innovation. He’s also picked up shadow assistant minister for resources and Western Australia under Jason Clare.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I know we are up for the challenge and have never felt more ready to roll up my sleeves and give it all I have got,” Mr Hammond says.

In a press release Mr Hammond says the focus on digital and tech fields is a pointer Labor’s preparing for the next stage of the economy: “Our magnificent resource companies will mine data in much the same way as they mine resources to drive the next wave of job creation.

“In my role, I hope to assist this exciting sector in moving towards new methods and new technologies to drive our economy into the 21st century.”

One of his first acts since being elected — apart from heading along to a Baigup Wetlands cleanup over the weekend — has been to get stuck into the state Liberal government over closing the RPH after-hours GP clinic, saying as a father of two younguns it’s important to be able to get to a nearby doctor day or night.

Mr Hammond’s moved into Alannah MacTiernan’s old office on Beaufort Street’s Inglewood stretch.

by DAVID BELL

VINCENT council has introduced tough new rules requiring 25 per cent of big developments be set aside for greenery.

Previously developers only needed to leave 10 per cent for gardens, lawn or trees in mixed use developments or blocks of flats, but the council is concerned about the city’s rapidly diminishing tree canopy. It’s busily trying to plant up its verges and parks, but is unable to keep pace with the chainsaws in suburban blocks.

Planning director Gabby Poezyn says the new rule is “in all probability” Perth’s toughest.

Mayor John Carey says less greenery equals higher local temperatures for people living in the developments, and it can also lead to health and psychological effects.

Council staff warned against the 25 per cent green space requirement, arguing 20 per cent was more reasonable.

Prohibitive

The larger requirement could make “commercial development… prohibitive in some instances, although it is recognised that some of this landscaping can be provided on the roof top or on upper levels”, they argued in a report to councillors.

In presenting the motion to council Mr Carey showed what wouldn’t count as soft landscaping; a dead green wall from a local block of flats.

They’re meant to look like lush walls of plants but in Perth often fail because of the tough climate or poor management.

Even Perth city council couldn’t keep one alive at Northbridge Piazza, despite constantly dumping cash into its care.

Mr Carey says the policy is a stop-gap measure while Vincent completely overhauls its planning rules.

There’s a lot of discretion built into them, and in the hands of development assessment panels the results are often taller, bulkier, and with less setbacks than neighbours would like.

“This has been a massive project and I think there’s been a bit of frustration by councillors and myself,” Mr Carey says. “We want these reforms in place. What we’re doing is ensuring a stronger framework so if the DAP continues, at least we know the minimum benchmarks are better in the interests of Vincent amenity [re] height, bulk, setbacks, soft green landscaping, all those sorts of issues.”

by DAVID BELL

DOG exercise parks in Stirling have been so successful the council is thinking of creating another five.

Stirling opened its first doggie run-around in Inglewood in 2013 and when it proved a hit opened a second at Charles Riley Memorial Reserve in November last year.

Now it wants pooch owners to be no more than a 10-minute drive from the nearest exercise area and has put out a strategy for public consultation that proposes new ones at the Lake Gwelup, Dianella and Carine regional open spaces, Celebration Park in Balga and Robinson Reserve in Tuart Hill.

Fenced-in parks are supposed to provide a space where dogs are secure and amongst people comfortable with dogs. Owners don’t have to be on high-alert so they’ve got more time to socialise, fostering community spirit.

“Feedback we have received from dog owners already using the two fenced dog exercise areas in the city indicates that owners find the enclosures more than just an area for their four legged friends to run free,” said Ian Hunter, Stirling’s manager of parks and reserves.

Community consultation is open until August 15.

A “VISIONING” event run by community and business group Future Bayswater has been a smash, with more than 150 interested locals packing out the local bowling club.

Paul Shanahan from FB says they weren’t sure what to expect after setting up a series of talks involving planning experts, who’ll give locals ideas about how they could shape the town centre.

“The Bayswater bowling club was packed and the event became standing room only very quickly. It’s obvious Baysie residents are keen to have a conversation about what the future could look like at the town centre,” Mr Shanahan says.

Structure plan

The series comes as Bayswater council brews a town centre structure plan, with urban renewal a major theme.

More mixed use development, more population to keep business humming, affordable housing, greener town centres and better pedestrian access are among FB’s aims.

The next free event is on August 4 at the Bayswater hotel.

Urban design specialist Malcolm Mackay will talk about issues the city might face in the future how they can be planned for now, while former South Perth mayor James Best will argue Bayswater needs to “evolve with the times”.

Check http://www.futurebayswater.com to register because spots will be gobbled up fast if it’s anything like the launch.

by DAVID BELL

A FORMER psychiatrist from the Hillview Terrace Hospital (also known as the Hillview Child and Adolescent Clinic) has been charged with sexually abusing three patients.

Police from WA’s child abuse taskforce charged 68-year-old Ian Stuart McAlpine of West Leederville with 26 counts of indecent assault, eight counts of sexual assault, five counts of indecent treatment of a child under 14 and one count of defilement of a girl under 13.

The offences were alleged to have occurred between 1985 and 1992.

Hillview opened East Vic Park in 1985, but was closed after 10 years following a damning report by Perth lawyer Neil Douglas which found inappropriate physical contact between patients and staff, a dominant nursing culture and rorting.

 

SICARI STATIONERY on William Street closes its doors at the end of this month after 35 years in the heart of Northbridge.

Owner Frank Sicari insists the store is closing up, not down, giving it the positive spin of someone heading happily into retirement. He’s even celebrated the occasion with big fluoro letters in the shop window screaming “retirement sale” in all-caps.

Mr Sicari has seen many faces come in and out of the stationery shop over the years, and has watched Northbridge gradually change outside his window.

He’ll miss the customers most of all.

“The whole world goes past this shop,” Mr Sicari says.

“They’ve been very very nice and I’ve loved the support. I’ve met some lovely people. It’s what made the days go by.”

Author Tim Winton, a multiple Miles Franklin award winner, would come into Sicari’s to buy typewriter ribbon in the 80s and 90s because it was one of the few places still selling it.

Selling stationery was never Mr Sicari’s plan as a kid, but he found it grew on him over the years, and the decision to retire was a tough one.

In the end, the thought of spending more time with his friends and family won him over.

On his first day of retirement, Mr Sicari is going to have a good sleep in, then go out for a leisurely cup of coffee with his wife.

by TRILOKESH CHANMUGAM

IT’S the dish Pauline Hanson refuses to eat.

The halal snack pack; a multicultural fusion of doner meat, chips, cheese and sauces to terrify any purist (foodie or racial).

The online Halal Snack Pack Appreciation Society now boasts 162,665 members on Facebook and is growing by thousands every week, its popularity soaring since Labor senator Sam Dastyari, a non-practising Muslim, started raving about them earlier this year.

When he invited Ms Hanson out for a HSP in Western Sydney following her election, she baulked.

Invented in Sydney about 30 years back (or 50, depending on various claims), many Perth kebaberies seem a bit shy about its name, sticking to the less political “meat box”.

But walk into Habib’s Kebabs in Freo and mention HSP, and the brothers know instantly what you’re after.

Holy trinity

“We do anything you want, we do cheese, we do the holy trinity,” the chef proudly claims, referring to the purists’ choice of sauces; chilli, barbeque and garlic.

The HSP appreciation society deems anyone ordering tomato sauce or salad in their pack a “haram dingo”, haram being Arabic for forbidden.

Habib’s chef says the dish had boomed locally, while over east it’s reportedly surpassing kebab sales in some restaurants.

Food’s long been tied to politics, race and class.

Lobsters were once the preserve of poor servants or prisoners and were seen as a gross ocean bug.

The name even comes from the old English “loppestre,” a corruption of locust.

“Lobster shells about a house are looked upon as signs of poverty and degradation,” John J. Rowan wrote in 1876.

In the Pacific Standard article How lobster got fancy, Daniel Luzer says it was embarrassing for kids to go to school with sandwiches full of lobster meat during the Depression.

Rationed

It was one of the few meats not rationed in World War II, and people got a taste for it. Demand grew, numbers shrank, and the cost skyrocketed.

The HSP fits neatly into this timeline of food as politics. Among the members of the HSPAS, eating the dish is a declaration of solidarity with Middle Easterners and Muslims, and a statement against the anti-halal scare campaign trumpeted by right-wingers.

It’s also incredibly tasty, making it a very palatable way to fly your anti-bigotry.

Habib’s HSP has meat piled high on top of chips and cheese for $14.50; a generous stack of tender cuts of lamb, beef and chicken.

Along with Habib’s Kebabs, places around Perth universally regarded as worthy among the HSPASers include Perth Kebab Station in Subi (though it’s so well regarded the lines can be long), Alladin’s in Morley or Five Star Kebabs on Horrie Miller Drive.

by DAVID BELL