Perth Voice Interactive

REECE HARLEY is challenging Lisa Scaffidi for the lord mayoral robes of Perth.

A Perth city councillor for just two years, he is often at odds with colleagues over heritage issues: for example, he was the only councillor to vote to retain the Michelides tobacco factory.

His platform so far includes promising more freedom for councillors to speak their minds in public without facing the prospect of being hauled before the WA local government standards panel, abolishing elected members’ clothing allowance, which he describes as an “archaic” indulgence from “earlier years of excess”, ending fees on alfresco licences and renting out empty floors in Council House.

“Why should ratepayers foot the bill for our suits?” he says. “We have not kept pace with community expectations, and it will take fresh blood to bring us up to pace.”

He did cop heat from CEO Gary Stevenson for using council resources to issue flyers to ratepayers. Cr Harley countered that communicating with constituents was key to any councillor’s role. The CEO still wants the money repaid and the situation remains unresolved.

Ms Scaffidi backed Cr Harley’s run for council in 2013—he came first in that year’s field—but since then the relationship has frayed.

Most recently, the lord mayor told Cr Harley not to be “spooked” by the atmosphere around council expenses, and was critical of him for questioning the provision of freebies to elected members and council staff in return for favourable sponsorship decisions.

They also disagree over the city’s sponsorship of public art: when Ms Scaffidi’s casting vote killed a big mural project and she said she didn’t mind the occasional blank wall, Cr Harley posted his wedding photos, taken in front of a grand Wolf Lane mural with the hashtag #blankwallsrboring.

Asked about his relationship with the lord mayor, Cr Harley says: “I have no control over the way that others treat me, but I always try to treat my fellow councillors with respect. I will work constructively with whoever is elected in October.”

Cr Harley also plans to get precinct groups for East Perth, West Perth and City Laneways running to get locals more involved and make sure the activation doesn’t only focus on the CBD.

“Precinct groups work well in lots of jurisdictions around the world including New York City as well as here at home like the Beaufort Street Network. On recent travels to New York I was so inspired to see beautiful city-owned parks where community members had a say in how they were run. It was an opportunity for parks and precincts to develop their own identities, and to grow in ways that were in response to community needs and desires. West Perth and East Perth have both not seen any significant change for years. The urban villages of East Perth and West Perth both need a lot more attention and investment, but this investment should be community driven through precinct groups, not top down.”

Cr Harley grew up in public housing raised by single mum Ros, a councillor at neighbouring Vincent. He started the Crawley branch of the Rotary club, was involved in donating swags to homeless people, and currently works for the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience which helps kids get through high school and into uni. His most recent project is the Museum of Perth, a nascent space in Grand Lane to document the city’s history.

by DAVID BELL

DAN LODEN of Mt Hawthorn is running for Vincent city council’s north ward in October on a platform of sustainability, liveability and environment. For the past five years the engineer has worked on community engagement projects. He volunteers with the organisation Engineers Without Borders and in his spare time hangs out at local cafes and parks with his son, Aidan and dog, Rhino. Mr Loden says he’d like to see more more solar panels and bike lanes throughout the city.

TWO more people have emerged as candidates for Bayswater council’s elections in October.

Paul Shanahan will contest west ward and Jonathan Jones central.

Mr Shanahan, a 51-year-old physics teacher at Chisholm College, has lived in Bayswater for 20 years, is on the board of St Columbas primary school, and is involved with local sports clubs through his three kids.

“I’m really into engaging with the community and consulting with them on council issues,” he says.

“I think a good example is the proposed council upgrade to the Frank Drago Reserve, where the consultation could have been done a lot better: “I’m also really excited about the push to revitalise the Bayswater town centre.”

Mr Jones, 36, is an architect who’s lived in the city for four years: he’s veteran councillor Mike Sabatino’s running mate.

“I have a lot of experience with building developments and planning through my job, so I feel I can bring that expertise to council,” he says.
“I would like to see rates no higher than CPI.

“I think with Mike’s experience and my relative youth, we can appeal to a wide demographic and provide good representation on council. The demographics of Bayswater are changing, as more and more young people move into the suburb.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

MERCEDES College student Danikka Calyon will travel to New York in September to attend the 70th United Nations General Assembly as national youth ambassador for Save the Children Australia.

Danikka was selected from more than 700 applicants for the role after the WA branch of Save the Children sent in an application on her behalf earlier this year.

Danikka says she wants to give young people from her Noongah community a voice and contribute to create positive change in her area.

She has been volunteering after school with the NGO since 2013, when she discovered the “One Step Closer” program, where workers organise after-school activities and workshops for 60 kids from all ethnicities and ages facing challenging environments.

Kids learn about sport, culture, cooking and attend talks that help them overcome daily life challenges.

Danikka participated in the program and became a mentor, helping to guide new participants.

by MARTA PASCUAL JUANOLA

BAYSWATER mayor Sylvan Albert has accused his election rival Catherine Ehrhardt of being “desperate” and “mischievous” after she had a go at him on Facebook.

Ms Ehrhardt, who is challenging Cr Albert for the sole south ward seat at the council elections in October, had claimed the mayor was being disingenuous about his involvement in Maylands events.

“Seeing Sylvan put something like this out [on his website] makes me angry. I will freely admit that,” she posted on her election Facebook page.

“Last year, he used his extra mayoral vote to try and delay the Maylands Markets — and if it was not for Cr McKenna adding that it had to come to the next meeting, or Cr Toldo putting in a rescind motion, Sylvan Albert would have successfully killed the Maylands Hawker Markets.”

“…at that planning committee meeting he voted against LACE Inc being given funding to hold a Street Festival! What a joke.

“He was also not ‘responsible’ for the last 3 street festivals. He was part of a TEAM — the MBA which included myself.”

Cr Albert said he’d been expecting this style of campaigning from Ms Ehrhardt.

“Mischievous,” he says. “It’s all misinformation, I don’t know what she’s talking about. “I supported the Maylands Street Festival and the Hawkers Markets.

“I suspect this will be the first of many attacks from her, but I don’t work like that.”

Cr Albert and Ms Ehrhardt were both members of the Maylands Business Association that worked on the successful Maylands Street Market.

Ms Ehrhardt left to form the Local Arts and Community Events, the not-for-profit group behind the Maylands markets, and which now runs the street festival as well.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

THE heritage-listed Polish Catholic Centre in Maylands will get a $300,000 makeover.

Father Tomasz Bujakowski says the money will go towards a disabled access ramp, a new roof and re-wiring.

“The hall is used by several community groups, including Alcoholics Anonymous and the children’s choir,” he says.

“So the repairs and upgrades will benefit a large number of people in the local area.

“We managed to secure a $170,000 grant from Lotterywest and paid for the rest ourselves.”

The hall, built on on Eighth Avenue in 1914 for the Salvation Army, features stucco brickwork and is in the federation freestyle.

It was re-opened in 1975 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Polish emigrated priesthood in WA, and is now used for social functions and by community groups.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

A FOUR-YEAR battle to build a concrete batching plant in Bayswater is set to continue.

The council deferred making a decision on approving the proposed facility at Collier Road, pending more information on its environmental impact.

WA Limestone’s original application was rejected in June 2011 and has been back and forth between the state administrative tribunal and council every since.

It was standing room only in the council chamber as residents bombarded councillors during question time.

“We need to do more investigation, there could be 40 trucks per hour at the plant,” said resident Jamie Petrovich, who’s worked in the concrete industry for 14 years.

“The environmental report provided is vague about several issues, including the impact of the dust,” said resident and former councillor Sally Palmer.

In a passionate address, Cr Chris Cornish said the distance between the plant and houses should double or even triple the 500m specified in the report.

“I believe the buffer zone has been miscalculated and we need to look into this,” he said.

“It’s not only homes but nearby businesses that can be classified as ‘sensitive land use’.”

Cr Terry Kenyon says despite the city being threatened with costs by the powerful but unelected SAT, “we are 110 per cent behind the residents fight against this plant”. “We have to look after their interests.” The item will come back to council, again, after more information on the environmental impact is gathered.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK