Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER train station is unlikely to get a substantial upgrade as part of the $2 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link because the local council failed to get its act together, says WA transport minister Dean Nalder.

The minister criticised Bayswater council for failing to develop a town centre vision in time for its ideas to be considered. He supports criticisms made by his parliamentary secretary, Jim Chown, in state parliament.

“I…expect the city to take responsibility in accepting that the state will be very restricted in its ability to live up to any expectations it may have in the immediate future as part of the Forrestfield–Airport Link project because of its earlier inaction,” Mr Chown told the Legislative Council.

“The City of Bayswater has made no serious progress on the development of a precinct vision for the land around Bayswater station.”

He says while the council has “finally stepped up to the plate” and indicated interest, the government hasn’t the budget or flexibility to accommodate last-minute changes to its project.

The council has not planned to develop a “structure plan” for its town centre until next financial year. Deputy mayor Stephanie Coates says she’ll ask for it to be brought forward to this year: “Bayswater is going to be the first stop on the train line from the airport,” she says. “We need to plan well so that visitors to Western Australia are greeted with a vibrant, inviting and attractive townsite.

“It will be important that the streetscapes look good, the shops are relevant to both local people and visitors, and the parking is well-planned.”

The Baysy Rollers, currently made up of 20 Bayswater residents and traders, met with federal Perth Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan and councillors this week to discuss revitalising the town.

“To our disappointment the proposed plans for the Bayswater station are almost non-existent, with the only proposed change being the provision of a disabled ramp,” Baysy Roller Kura Perkins says.

“The distinct lack of integrated infrastructure planning is very concerning and has been a keen topic of discussion amongst our members, local businesses and residents.

“We are advocating for sinking a short section of the rail line at the Bayswater subway, at the corner of King William Street and Whatley Crescent, to alleviate the common occurrence of trucks and larger vehicles being trapped under the subway, as well as to connect both sides of the town centre to create a more integrated and vibrant urban hub, which is currently divided by the railway line.”

Mr Nalder notes that sinking a 600m section of the Fremantle-Perth line cost $360 million.

Labor isn’t committing to an underground station either, but state Maylands Labor MP Lisa Baker says, “we will be considering a range of ideas and topics”, including “fixing dangerous level crossings, like Caledonian Avenue”.

The MP is holding a forum to discuss transport issues at The Rise in Maylands from 6pm, Monday, November 30.

by EMMIE DOWLING

AFTER riding his bike 4000km to Melbourne for charity, Warren Hepworth returned to Perth — only to have it stolen.

There are fears thefts are organised, with speciality bikes stolen across Perth being sent east for sale.

Nicked from Carr Street in West Perth a few months after arriving home, Mr Hepworth’s steel frame “Specialized Awol” is a tough-as-nails steel frame bike built for strength and durability over transcontinental journeys, but is probably too heavy for a civilian to cruise around the city on every day.

After copping a shoulder injury shortly after getting back to Perth, he had only recently got back on the bike.

“And now it’s gone,” he sighed.

Following his massive marathan for suicide prevention charity RU OK?, he says the distinctive Brooks leather saddle “has been worn in and fits my butt like Cinderella’s slipper”.

Mr Hepworth chose RU OK? after heading out west to ride the mining boom but finding the 98-hour working weeks left him struggling with depression.

Mr Hepworth knows two buddies in nearby neighbourhoods had bikes stolen the same night.

Online chatter amongst enthusiasts pegs bike theft in Perth as “out of control”: the “little shits” are now using carjacks to bust open locks, cyclist Craig Harris reports.

A Mt Hawthorn parent reports bikes bought to replace the kids’ stolen bikes have now also been nicked. Back in June entrepreneur Mike O’Hanlon also had his high-end treadly nicked from Mt Lawley, going so far as to offer an “infinite toasted sandwich” reward from his shop Toastface Grillah for its return.

Mr Hepworth has reported the theft to police and his buddies have also provided the fuzz with the rego of a bike thief who was spotted as they were tearing away.

But reckoning it’s unlikely to make it to the top of the police “to do” list, Mr Hepworth is urging anyone who spots his iron steed to message him a photo and location on 0438 507 711 “so I can appear like Batman to claim it back”.

by DAVID BELL

PERTH’S strangest, rarest and most beautiful buildings will be opened to the public this weekend for the third Open House Perth.

The project was a massive hit in its first two years, with many tours packed out and nearly 50,000 visits across the 56 locations in the first year.

Lisa and Clem Tay are opening their East Perth home for tours this year. They live in a converted warehouse on Saunders Street, in an old furniture factory called Boans. It’s a prime example of adaptive reuse whereby old buildings are reimagined for new purposes rather than demolished. Their shop is on the ground floor and they live in the storeys above.

“We were looking for a house when we moved back from Melbourne,” says Lisa, a one-time pharmacist who now sells rare homewares.

“And when we saw it was zoned for a shop as well we thought, why not have both?

“It was a joke at first,” she laughs, but they stuck to the idea and now love living in an old converted factory.

“We love it. It’s not for everyone, it’s not terribly kid-friendly with four levels and a spiral staircase, but with a young couple it’s very good.”

They got on board with the not-for-profit organisation Open House Perth after director Carly Barrett wandered through the place and asked if they’d let people into their curious home and shop.

The tours visit everything from humble houses to our tallest skyscrapers, with walks through 108 St Georges Terrace, the Bishops See Gardens, His Majesty’s Theatre and the new boutique Alex Hotel.

All tours are free but book on http://www.openhouseperth.net

by DAVID BELL

BAYSWATER council is again discussing the possible sale of its Mertome retirement village.

New mayor Barry McKenna says with four new councillors — one-third of the council — it’s important to revisit the issue. Mertome needs revamping and the council’s choices are essentially to stump up $170 million for a proper facelift, do something cheaper, or sell the place to a “professional aged care operator”.

“The real question here is whether the City of Bayswater stays in control of the centre, or decides to move out of aged care,” Cr McKenna says.

“I don’t want to influence the new councillors by providing my opinion (but) I have always liked that were are a cradle-to-grave city: you can be born, educated, work and retire here.

“The new councillors are being brought up to speed on the history of issue and are very aware that we do need to consider the welfare of the residents living there.”

Council officers last year investigated building two seven-storey apartment blocks, with 316 apartments.

The council expects to spend more than $1 million on “asset renewal” to its aged-care buildings this financial year. In 2014/15 it spent $260,000.

Cr Terry Kenyon, who stood against Cr McKenna for the mayoralty, says he’s talked with Mertome residents—aged between 55 and 90—and they only want a basic upgrade. “All they want is a makeover,” he says. “Not the full monty, as they call it. They’re sick and tired of the council threatening to do this.

“I think it’s driven by the administration and people, councillors, who wrongly think we’re in a risky position to keep it because it’s not making a profit.”

He says he’s talked with new councillors about keeping the “asset” and says he will be “very surprised” if the council decides to sell.

Many councillors ousted at last month’s elections were supporters of the sale, he says.

The Winifred Road home was established in 1972 and accommodates 213 people in 200 units. It was the first of its kind to be constructed by a council and pioneered local government involvement in aged care. Many councils are now getting out of the sector.

In 2006, Bayswater entered into an agreement with Juniper—formerly Uniting Church Homes—to operate the city’s retirement villages, including Mertome, and its residential aged care facilities.

by EMMIE DOWLING