Perth Voice Interactive

Residents go barking mad

July 9, 2015

BARKING dogs were behind 848 noise complaints to Stirling council last financial year.

There were 1666 noise complaints all up last financial year—more than the combined total of Bayswater, Vincent and Perth councils. Loud music and rowdy parties (481), industrial work (143) and “general noise” from houses (24) were the other main nuisances. Roosters and parrots ruffled 23 feathers.

Council CEO Stuart Jardine says a staffer addresses every complaint with a house visit and will only issue a fine if problems continue. “Nine times out of 10, the city is able to work with the parties concerned to come to a mutually beneficial outcome,” he says.

Staff issued 11 fines totalling $3700—well down on the 21 that raked in $6000 the year before.

Over at Bayswater, residents mostly complained about rowdy parties, followed by early construction work. They also had a lot to say about loud pets, mostly roosters and dogs—with 233 animal complaints.

Perth city council workers dealt with 323 complaints, mostly related to building noise and concerts/events. This was up from 234 in 2013/14.

Spokesman Michael Holland says the rise was caused by more events and new developments.

by EMMIE DOWLING
A twist on public art

July 9, 2015

MOUNT LAWLEY artist Mel McVee has a trio of new curios installed around the CBD with her new public art project, Red Automaton.

McVee’s a bit of a chameleon in the local art scenes, producing everything from playful kids’ murals for playgrounds to psychedelic chihuahua wall art to hand-welded mechanical sculptures.

The three sculptures are part of Perth city council’s Transart temporary public art series, and the little automatons are inspired by old-fashioned penny arcade machines.

• Mel McVee and her red mystery machine in Grand Lane. Photo by Matthew Dwyer

The interactive sculptures each refer to a secret phrase involving the word “red” that punters have to work out by manipulating the knobs.

“It’s lovely watching people play with them,” McVee says. “Usually you can’t touch art, but in the public realm it should be interactive.

“I enjoy the viewer being part of the experience and by moving the handle that’s when the sculpture comes into its own because you see the reason behind it.”
They’re at Tiger Tiger Coffee Bar in Wolf Lane, Toastface Grillah in Grand Lane and Babooshka in the William Street Arcade till July 12.

by DAVID BELL
LETTERS 11.7.15

July 9, 2015

Intolerance on the rise
OUR ideologies have progressed so much to be humane and tolerant beings since our calendar was introduced 2015 years ago.
In the last century Australia abolished the idea of white supremacy, gave equal rights to women and Aboriginal people and gave them the right to vote.
We’ve accepted freedom of religions and separated religion from state. We’ve accepted the idea of a secular state and given way to multiculturalism.
We’ve apologised to the stolen generation. We’ve accepted homosexuality as part of our human nature and minority groups within our society.
Justice and humanity took charge, in spite of opposition by hardened people who still believe in the dark ages. As before, they are opposing again. This time against same-sex marriage, most of whom still believe in the absurdities and intolerant and anti-freedom ideologies of religions or cultures.
Alex Mulla
Smith St, Highgate

Somewhat confused
I AM writing in response to the article about Catherine Ehrhardt’s intention to challenge Bayswater mayor Sylvan Albert at October’s council elections (Voice, June 27, 2015).
I found Ms Ehrhardt’s stance to be somewhat confusing. On one hand she maintains she needs a council that will keep rates low, but on the other criticises Mayor Albert for supporting the state government’s council amalgamation plans.
If amalgamation had occurred Bayswater had the potentional to more than double the number of its ratepayers and what mayor wouldn’t want that? The whole philosophy behind the amalgamation process, as I understand it, was to achieve greater efficiencies of scale and, as a result, to keep rates down.
A number of Stirling ratepayers, such as myself, were actually looking forward to joining the City of Bayswater, a council seen to be both more innovative and customer-focussed than Stirling.
Gary Clyne
Ninth Ave, Inglewood

Out of touch
MICHAEL SUTHERLAND’s summation of continuing anti-social behaviour is correct, despite the protestations of East Perth resident TJ Maller, (Voice Mail, July 4, 2015) who is clearly out of touch with the facts.
Indeed it was only through the well-researched Evangel Report, presented to the City of Perth by the state MP for Perth, that recommendations to change the environment contributing to the problem have been identified.
The City of Perth has the Evangel Report on Wellington Square and to date nothing has been acted upon, save relocating the soup kitchen, upgrading the lighting, and the addition of a security cameras to merely observe the itinerants go about their anti-social behaviour.
The blight that attracts anti-social behaviour is the 75-year-old health hazard called a “public facility”, and remains the centre of ongoing problems. Despite the report’s overwhelming positive recommendations, including demolition, to be replaced with a modern self-cleaning facility, the City remains intransigent in its approach.
This facility is the last legacy of its type in Perth, and is some 40 years overdue for replacement. How is it the Evangel Report remains ignored by the City of Perth, and the businesses and residents are constantly assailed by the continuing anti-social behaviour emanating from the Wellington Square toilet block?
Mr Maller, a critic of Mr Sutherland MLA, might do well to avail himself of the report by calling his electoral office, or that of Eleni Evangel if he really wants to get himself up to speed on the facts. In the meantime the businesses, residents and ratepayers of the East Perth precinct await the City of Perth’s action in respect of this report.
CG Johnson
Convenor, Citizen Advocates for Wellington Square

Ssh in the city
PERTH city council is keen to promote inner-city living and help Perth grow by building a higher density of CBD residents.
This is good for the council as it brings a lot more ratepayers to its zone, as well as atmosphere and activities. The only problem is that small businesses move into these now mainly residential areas and feel they have the right to run late-night events and disrupt the many for the profit of a few.
One local business claimed to have council permission when we approached it, however the council was not aware of what was going on and had not given permission when the business got its operating licence.
The council should be doing more to police businesses operating out of allowed hours and build the appeal of inner-city living or it will soon evaporate. Maybe our council fees need to be reduced to compensate for the loss of our living environment.
No-one argues with having things to do in the city, but late-night music parties on residential streets each weekend is a bit much.
Backward step, PCC.
Richard Aguilera
Boans Lane, East Perth

Spring is coming
JUNE was the warmest on record for Perth. An acacia outside my kitchen window is pushing out sprays of young green while its liquidambar friend and neighbour has buds in countdown mode. On the first day of midwinter—gosh.
Charlie Benskin
Kingston St, Nedlands
An eye for detail

July 9, 2015

NORTH PERTH photographer Brad Serls’ last exhibition Houses of 6006 explored the tiny details and hidden places often ignored in the homes of his suburb’s well-trodden streets.

For his new collection, Lurking, the 35-year-old has taken his passion for detail to the “weird little places” in some of Europe’s greatest cities.

From the tallest point in Paris some photographers might be tempted to snap a panoramic view of the skyline, but Serls was fascinated by the textures of the roofs below.

• Florence

“I was a lot more attuned to detail… all I wanted to do was take pictures of the rooftops.”

Likewise, Dubrovnik in Croatia was full of secrets for a patient photographer: Hotel Belvedere was built as a five-star luxury hotel but abandoned when Serbs attacked in 1991.

• Paris

As he watched, he spotted stray cats creeping across the rocky surface of broken walls, new denizens who had moved in after refugees who had sheltered there had long moved out. Someone had even left behind a bag of cat food for visitors to scatter among the strays.

Hungary’s Budapest proved rich hunting grounds for a texture-obsessive: “Nothing’s been fixed up, no building’s had plaster replaced,” he says, and it sometimes reminded him of the North Perth cottages left to fall to ruin while the owner prepared to demolish.

• Brad Serls.

Lurking: An Exhibition by Brad Serls is at the William Street Bird until July 26. Or see bradsphotog on instragram.

by DAVID BELL
Meat America

July 9, 2015

THE sweet smell of barbecue sauce hangs heavy in the air at Old Faithful, an American BBQ joint on King Street that’s been open a bit over a year now.

It follows a philosophy of “low and slow” smoked meats, and there’s always huge hunks of animal slowly cooking away in the kitchen.

You order as a table and the staff reckon you should aim for around 250g of meat per person; it’s all served up in a big share plate alongside bread and shaved onions that slather up the sauce.

Chopped pig ($8.20 per 100g) comes in a beautifully messy pile of shredded meat, moist and tender and in a tangy sauce. The barbecue chicken ($10.80/100g) is cut into thin strips, the outside just a little charred and covered in mysterious bitey American mustard sauce. The wagyu beef brisket (the premium beef option at $17.80/100g) is king of the show, with the gourmet cow served on the bone, the bulk of the flesh soft and juicy and tapering off into the flavour-rich chewy part close to the bone. I could eat eight cows’ worth.

Admirably Old Faithful sources all its beers locally from Feral Brewery, known for its American-style craft beers with a hefty bite to them that can go toe-to-toe with the massive meaty flavours. If you tried to knock back a Corona or some other faux swill you wouldn’t be able to taste it above the sweet barbecue sauce, so something with hair on its chest, like the Feral’s American Pale Ale, is needed to balance it out.

The menu’s rounded out by some properly American sides like coleslaw, chicken wings, fried pickles and the delicious corn bread ($5 for two cupcakes), filled with chunks of real corn and slathered in sweet, soothing maple butter.

Every item was delicious and filling and I can start to forgive Americans for being so obese they need mobility scooters to navigate Walmart if this is what they’re eating over there.

by DAVID BELL

Old Faithful Bar & BBQ
86 King Street, Perth
0439 467 035
ACTON MOUNT LAWLEY

July 9, 2015

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Magical Morrison

July 9, 2015

TUCKED off Guildford Road in Maylands is quiet Morrison Street, a place where neighbourhood kids play in the street because only about six cars an hour roll past.

Behind a literal white picket fence, the original house at number 12 was probably built a bit over a century ago, and it’s in remarkably good nick. Built old-school tough and recently renovated, it has the classic cottage look at the front that opens up into extensive and classy add-ons out back.

The four spacey bedrooms at the front have toweringly high ceilings the likes of which no-one’s built in decades, with a modern ensuite and walk-in robe in the main bedroom.

Into the new additions built from sturdy brick, and you have a massive gourmet chef’s kitchen with more stainless steel than the set of a sci fi movie spaceship.

This flows onto a big open-plan living/dining area, with double-wide sliding doors out to an undercover alfresco area with a projector, speakers and pull-down screen for outdoor entertaining.

With a generous backyard big enough to play Calvinball, you also have a sizeable shed out here and a double undercover parking with access through the rear ROW.

Location-wise nearby Guildford Road makes for an easy trip into the city, and you’re also in walking distance of the Maylands train station, the riverfront, and the rapidly gentrifying Eighth Avenue shops and cafes.

by DAVID BELL

12 Morrison Street Maylands
From $949,000
Jen Jones 0415 662 662
Beaufort Realty 9227 0887
Council writes off ‘bizarre’ deal

July 2, 2015

A $21,800 “debt” owed by Bendigo North Perth Community Bank to Vincent city council—the product of what has been described as a “bizarre” and “inappropriate” handshake deal—is being written off.

Since taking over the reins at Vincent new CEO Len Kosova and his team of bean-counters have been running a careful eye over the city’s finances. It has discovered that in 2013—when John Giorgi was CEO—city officers had discussed with branch representatives a sponsorship deal.

The community bank branch is chaired by former mayor Nick Catania.

Under the informal agreement the branch was to pay for wall-mounted DVD screens at Beatty Park pool—which would also carry Bendigo logo sponsorship—in return for the city shifting Beatty Park’s banking business to the branch.

The city spent nearly $22,000 on the screens and issued an invoice for reimbursement.

However, because it never switched the pool’s accounts to Bendigo—it had been deemed impractical to split city accounts—the branch never paid the council back.

“I’m not going to dance around the subject: it shouldn’t have occurred,” Mr Kosova told councillors Tuesday night. His description of deal was met with chuckles of disbelief from the chamber.

Perplexed

He said the issuing of an invoice without a signed deal in place was “premature and inappropriate”.

He said it was “very poor form” and he was “perplexed and disappointed about how this came to be”.

He’s trying to determine if any of the staff involved are still employed.

Mayor John Carey labelled the deal “bizarre” and said it underlined why ongoing reform was needed.

“Have faith in our pathway of reform that these types of scenarios will not happen… because we have a great new CEO and a new finance director who are driving reform in all our processes.”

by DAVID BELL
Pet shop defiant

July 2, 2015

REVELATIONS an Inglewood pet shop has been sourcing dogs from an eastern states dog breeder who fails to meet industry standards has renewed calls for a ban on “puppy farm” pets.

The RSPCA found more than 200 dogs on the farm in northern NSW and found several instances of non-compliance with the animal welfare code of practice (but not animal cruelty). The RSPCA recommended the breeder reduce numbers and 45 animals were surrendered.

Fairfax media this week reported a dog bought from Mount Lawley Pets and Puppies died nine days after purchase, succumbing to bronchopneumonia brought on by kennel cough.

In January Mount Lawley Pets and Puppies co-owner Rose Wilson told the Voice “we don’t deal with backyard breeders” and she’s sticking to that, and defending her supplier.

“Do you think we’d be stupid enough to take puppies from somewhere that we weren’t happy to endorse?” the ABC reported her saying, Monday.

“We couldn’t be doing it any better that I can think of right now, and as far as the breeders that we use, they’re all caring breeders.

“I know there are going to be people who cast doubt on that, but all I can say is if you have any concern, call us direct.”

Ms Wilson maintains her shop is being “unfairly targeted” by Oscar’s Law campaigners who demand an end to puppy farms and the sale of pets from shops. A protest was held there earlier this week.

The campaigners argue it’s wrong to breed dogs for sale when there are so many abandoned and available for rescue.

Puppy farms vary in quality, but all treat the birth and sale of puppies as a business. The worst are squalid, cruel and cramped, with mothers kept permanently pregnant to pump out litters, and ruthlessly disposed of when too exhausted to continue.

Pet shops use membership of the Pet Industry Association of Australia as a shield against accusations of cruelty: the PIAA guarantees its dogs are sourced from responsible breeders, but PIAA’s inspection and enforcement capability has been exposed as inadequate.

Maylands Labor MP Lisa Baker, a long-time animal rights campaigner, says her party is committed to stopping puppy farms and has a paper out for public comment (http://www.markmcgowan.com.au/puppies).

Ideas so far include limiting females to five litters, pre-mating and post-birth vet checks, sterilising dogs not intended for breeding, and breeder registration for easier auditing.

Properly educating the public is a big step, Ms Baker says: “There needs to be much better consumer awareness about the issue,” she says, with many having no idea what conditions their expensive designer dogs are bred in.

by DAVID BELL
Vincent gifts to be posted online

July 2, 2015

ALL gifts and hospitality given to Vincent’s elected members are to be published online as part of the council’s transparency drive.

Deputy mayor Ros Harley had requested the register go online to make it more easily accessible to locals.

Under Vincent’s rules councillors must declare any gift valued over $50 (and refuse any above $300). Currently, anyone keen for a nosy must navigate the upstairs inner citadel at council HQ. Few bother with the rigmarole.

Mayor John Carey is keen to discuss Vincent’s transparency drive at the WA local government association’s August pow-wow.

He’ll be suggesting other councils follow Vincent’s lead in recording elected member contact with developers and publicising travel. And he’s still keen to prohibit donations from developers to candidates.
Mr Carey predicts some noses may be put out of joint: “This conversation is going to make some people in the local government sector very uncomfortable,” he told the Voice. “Some people in local government don’t want to talk about it.”

Mr Carey said local government copped “a bad perception because of overseas trips or other things in that area” and he hoped an open register would improve things.

by DAVID BELL