Perth Voice Interactive

JAMES CHESTERS will soon be stepping off Perth’s tallest building.

But fear not that he’s asking for death.

He’ll have a harness, helmet and the support of dozens of others who next month abseil down the CBD’s Central Park building for charity.

The Voice met with the Mt Hawthorn man on the roof this week to test out his vertigo, seeing as he hadn’t yet seen the view from the 54-storey, 220m-tall building.

Landmarks 30km away are easily seen at the top, as well as the slight curve of the earth’s surface.

“Aw wow, it feels much higher up here,” Mr Chesters, 34, says, gazing at the distant Perth hills.

Like an icy hand sliding up one’s back, pushing, wind ushers Mr Chesters to a meagre, hip-high wall—the only barrier between him and a clean, unforgiving drop.

The wind speed is bang on 7kmh—it’s displayed on a digital meter near a door to the roof because being up there when speeds are higher than 30kph is too dangerous.

The Voice’s building guide, Greg, says workers on floors upwards of 40 felt the building slightly sway a few years ago—as it’s designed to do—when winds reached upwards of 150kph.

Not even that story will scare off Mr Chesters.

He’s abseiling the building for the charity Kids’ Camp, which offers a fun retreat for children with disabilities.

“It’s more than just unfortunate that not everyone in life has the same opportunities, it’s also heart-breaking,” Mr Chesters, who’s raised $1000, says.

“Kids’ Camps make a real difference. They give children the opportunity for personal growth, enjoyment…and development of new life skills. These are all things that many of us don’t even notice in our own day-to day lives, but can mean the whole world to these kids.”

He joins 300 other participants at the Central Park Plunge charity event, which runs from August 7-9.

Mr Chesters is abseiling down on the last day. Organisers at Zenith Events expect to raise a collective total of $350,000 for Ronald McDonald House, Fiona Wood Foundation, Anglicare WA and Kids’ Camp.

The tallest building in the world is Dubai’s Burj Khalifa at 829m.

To donate to Mr Chesters’ cause, go to https://centralparkplungekidscamp2015.everydayhero.com/au/jaychesters

by EMMIE DOWLING

PROPOSED new laws could see people who don’t even know they’re dual citizens stripped of their Australian citizenship, Perth federal Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan says.

While most media attention has been on foreign-born Australians who retain citizenship of countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, Ms MacTiernan notes Australian-born citizens can all too easily be caught in the net.

“You’ve got people like me who had no idea they were dual citizens,” she says. “My father was born in Ireland, I never knew I had Irish citizenship.”

Only when filling out forms to enter federal parliament was the Australian-born politician’s dual citizenship discovered.

Legal authority

The Abbott government’s Allegiance to Australia bill will give the immigration minister—currently Peter Dutton—the legal authority to strip citizenship from any dual national suspected of fighting for terrorist organisations, financing terrorism, directing activities for terrorism or engaging in recruitment.

No conviction is necessary—the minister can make his decision based solely on secret advice from intelligence agencies.

Ms MacTiernan says the law is dangerous because the notion of terrorism can change: less than 30 years ago Margaret Thatcher labelled Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress a terrorist organisation making Mandela, by association, a terrorist. In the early 1960s then-FBI director J Edgar Hoover branded Martin Luther King Jr “the most dangerous” African-American leader in the US.

Under the proposed law, Ms MacTiernan could have had her Australian citizenship revoked and been deported from the country of her birth to Ireland, where she’s never lived, for an act as simple as donating to a humanitarian organisation that was later discovered to have links with militia or insurgents.

“This is not just confined to ISIS… people supporting freedom fighters against a terrible dictatorship, they could be caught up in this,” she notes.

“I think it’s appalling… what I see as a massive over-extension is people who are not fighting overseas, who may never have left Australia, and who have never been charged with anything or found guilty by the courts, can find themselves having lost their citizenships.”

In the Perth electorate about 61 per cent have either one or both parents born overseas: the national average is about 43 per cent.

Ms MacTiernan’s holding a forum on Australian citizenship, what it means and who should decide when it’s removed at the North Perth Bowling Club, 10 Farmer Street on July 19. RSVP 9272 3411.

by DAVID BELL

DOZENS of Perth newsagents are selling up amid fierce competition from major retailers and the rise of online media.

Dozens of news/lotto shops are for sale at http://www.reiwa.com.au—more than 40 being sold by brokers at Piedmont Action in Northbridge.

The Voice stopped at five newsagancies along Beaufort Street this week and almost all owners were either selling their business, thinking about doing so or had just sold.

A Beaufort Street newsagent, who did not want to be named, says he’s planning on selling because of competition from major retailers such as Coles and Woolworths, which also sell magazines and newspapers.

He accuses the federal government of killing small business by allowing big retailers to trade for long hours and strangle the market.

Dismissed

He dismissed the much-praised budget tax break for small business, saying an early tax return on equipment costing up to $20,000 is no incentive to upgrade if traders don’t have the money to spend in the first place.

In Inglewood, Ryan’s Newsagency is one of two agencies for sale. Down near the city, Beaufort Newsagency—which doubles as a cafe—has just been sold and the business will change hands next month.

At Highgate Lottery and News, co-owner Simon Nguyen, 27, says his family thought about selling the Beaufort Street business after 15 years trading, partly because of online competition.

But instead, they’re planning an expansion to make it “more than just a basic newsagency”.

“It’ll be like a mini-supermarket,” Mr Nguyen says. “We’ve noticed a few flower shops around so we’ll get in a larger range of cards and gifts so it’s more of a one-stop shop.”

Several generations of the family have worked at the shop, and Mr Nguyen says it’s a fall-back plan for relatives who venture out.

Despite the apparent economic downturn experienced by other retailers, about 15 of Mr Nguyen’s customers came and went in the 10 minutes the Voice was there at noon.

“Everyone knows who we are,” he says. “People here, especially older people, care about shopping local.”

The Nguyen family has adapted to changing market trends: about 10 years ago, it expanded its cigarette range after noticing many smokers on the street.

Sarah Garvey from Australian Newsagency Federation’s WA branch says the Nguyen family is being smart by diversifying.

“The newsagents who are thriving have grown their gift/card and technology product areas,” she says.

“They are focussing more on special occasions and…presenting their traditional magazine, news and stationery offerings in more engaging ways to compete with Officeworks and others.”

Ms Garvey says while the economic climate and decline in newspapers and magazines is challenging, the best traders have convenient online services and are active on social media.

“Lottery is still a strong differentiator—yes online lottery sales are growing but good newsagents continue to grow this category in retail, too,” she says.

She says there’s been a “small” dip in the number of Perth newsagencies over the past five years.

Piedmont Action broker Tom Fung agrees, saying he has noticed a rise in newsagency sales in the past few years.

The decline of corner shops has also been widely reported on in the past few months.

by EMMIE DOWLING

BAD news for West Perth residents: the chances of your house being burgled are nearly four times higher than for folk in Northbridge.

The good news is the odds of your car being stolen are only double.

At a Perth city council planning meeting this week councillor Reece Harley pointed out dire police statistics illustrating the level of crime in the area, and asked council staff to look at spreading the city’s CCTV network out West Perth way.

“Residents I’m talking to are calling for it,” Cr Harley says.

In the past year West Perth racked up 142 burglaries (Northbridge had 50) and 48 stolen cars (to Northbridge’s 26).

“Though expensive, I think we as a city need to look at expanding our [CCTV] network west and east,” Cr Harley said.

“I know that is a big cost but I think we have the financial capacity to do that.”

He said the state government could be asked to help chip in with costs, or the council could team up with owners to hook into their private CCTV networks.

Northbridge retains its title as Perth’s assault capital, with 363 over the year, a mere 10 times higher than on the means streets of West Perth.

by DAVID BELL

OWNERS of rundown heritage buildings on Barrack Street may get some financial support from Perth city council after all.

The new $135,000 plan is a watered down version of one rejected two weeks ago by Perth city councillors, which would have seen ratepayers stump up $321,000 towards repairs, with owners pitching in another $1m.

Cr Reece Harley had been the only councillor in favour of the spend and this week he fronted the planning committee to keep pressing the case, arguing it was well within budget, met the council’s heritage policy rules (adopted last year) and was supported by the city architect and planning chief.

His suggestion his colleagues may have rejected the spend out of “confusion” was given short shrift by committee chair Rob Butler, who said, “we won’t go there”.

Crs Butler and Judy McEvoy suggested a $135,000 compromise: owners can no longer apply to hide modern appliances such as air conditioners which are considered to ruin heritage character and the council likely won’t pay $150,000 for an etched glazing displaying the original (now removed) facade of the Commonwealth bank building, at least for now.

The full council will vote on the more frugal heritage spend at its next meeting.

by DAVID BELL

BAYSWATER ratepayers will get a note with their rates kindly informing them a big chunk of their rate hike this year is because of the state government’s failed council amalgamation process.

Baysy councillors were split 6-5 over whether to include the note which tells people “the city spent over $1 million, in good faith, in preparation of the boundary changes (equivalent to a 2.7 per cent increase in rates)”.

The move is reminiscent of the Barnett government’s own decision to include on power bills a line explaining how much of the bill was due to Julia Gillard’s carbon price.

Cr Mike Anderton proposed including the notice after the state government refused to refund the cash that councils had spent preparing for mergers.

Mayor Sylvan Albert and councillors Mike Sabatino, Michelle Sutherland, Stephanie Coates and John Rifici voted against the note’s inclusion.

“Regardless of which political party is in power you cannot belt the government of the day with a baseball bat,” Cr Sabatino said.

“I am there to represent my ratepayers and get the best outcome for them. The council has some very exciting plans for the future, I will not be shortsighted and jeopardise them.”

Everyone the Voice spoke to knocked back suggestions there was any political angle to the way they voted.

Cr Albert, a Liberal party candidate at the last election, pointed out “one of the six who voted for is an open an active Liberal member, and also there are non-Liberal members who voted against”.

Cr Sabatino, a former Labor man, said “I am no longer a member, so I didn’t play politics on this issue”.

Cr Coates, whose father Ross McLean was the federal Liberal MP for Perth, said she’d never been a member of any party and even so “it was not relevant to the way I voted. I had an issue with the breakdown of the costs (particularly in relation to the staffing cost component)”.

Cr Sutherland, wife of Mt Lawley Liberal MP Michael Sutherland, agreed: “I wanted to know more about the costs… we didn’t employ any more staff, and yet we had an extra $400,000 in staff costs.

“It wasn’t politics, I’ve only been on the council two years in October, and I’ve personally left politics out of it because I know everyone’s going to scrutinise me because I’m Michael’s wife.

“I got onto council more for the community side and I’ve purposely kept politics out of it.”

by DAVID BELL

THE bones of the past have been used to liven up Vincent’s streets, with new parklets in Mount Hawthorn and William Street built from timber reclaimed from the town depot and century-old turnstiles from Perth oval.

Craftsman Andrew Christie from A Good Looking Man (who works out of the MANY building in Fremantle) constructed the rustic ramshackle parklets for Vincent city council’s project to provide more public spaces for people to have a cuppa and a chinwag.

The council’s now looking for people to nominate places for more parklets and is working on a policy for that.

If you’re interested in the meantime email place manager David Doy at mail@vincent.wa.gov.au

A FOOD van trial at Bert Wright Park has gotten off to a good start.

About 250 people fuelled up on street food at Bayswater StrEats’ three-month trial at the park last Friday.

Catherine Ehrhardt, the group’s co-ordinator who organises rosters for street vendors, says it’s promising when two traders sell out on the first night.

“We’re hoping to keep it going,” she says.

Bayswater council has approved the gastronomic venture as part of a 12-month “mobile food vehicle” trial. StrEats’ permit is due for review mid-October.

The group is asking to park on the King William Street verge, closer to foot traffic.

But council says trucks must be parked on the grass near Hamilton Street—further away from a playground and houses, and in a place where they’re less likely to snaffle business from a nearby cafe.

Ms Ehrhardt says they’re not chuffed about being in the “furtherest corner” of the park. “But we’ll take what we’re given,” she says.

“Our major concern about the indicated area would be that after three months of driving large vehicles over grass, it may leave turf damage, meaning the council might say no to future applications.”

Ben Doyle wryly notes in a comment on the group’s Facebook page, “nothing activates the street like a food truck parked 100m away, over wet grass.”

StrEats also runs in Perth and South Perth, and is soon to start in Subiaco.

Bayswater council’s mobile food trial got off to a slow start with just two vendors—Annie’s Wood Fired Pizza in Bardon Park and a van proposing to sell coffee and biscuits at Wright Park—signing up after four months.

Cool Breeze Cafe co-owner Georgia Johnson says the $1500 yearly permit—nearly double what neighbouring Vincent charges—played a role in the slow take up.

Bert Wright Park’s street food feast is on for dinner every night from 5-8pm (or possibly 9pm, depending on the crowd). They’re also cooking lunch from 11am-2pm on weekends.

The council only allows five trucks at the park, with the roster alternating between seven vendors: Bootlegger Coffee Co, Comida Rica, Miam Miam (A Bite of France), Meast, Greek St Grill, Rancho Sombrero and Uncle Chops Smokehouse.

For more information, visit the Bayswater StrEats Facebook page.

by EMMIE DOWLING