Perth Voice Interactive

Few Barrackers

July 2, 2015

PLANS for a $320,000 heritage facelift of Barrack Street have come unstuck following opposition from Perth city councillors.

Officers had recommended that building owners be issued grants to spruce up their properties, but councillors refused to back the idea, sending it back for a rethink.

The street is currently being upgraded to the tune of $5.8 million and staff — and Cr Reece Harley, the only “yes” vote — thought it made sense to tart up the buildings at the same time. The plan had been to spend:

• $73,000 on 123 Barrack Street (now occupied by a Salvos store) to remove steel cladding and restore the original facade;

• $97,384 on the Connor Quinlan Estate at the corner of Hay Street, to repaint the facade and relocate airconditioners and conceal modern, unsightly services; and,

• up to $150,000 on rebuilding the old Commonwealth Bank building’s facade at No 86.

• How Barrack Street could have looked if Perth city council stumped up the cash.

Cr Harley—often in the minority on heritage issues—says the money “would have seen the restoration of the Salvation Army building and the taking down of the horrible metal mask which has blighted this building and our street for many years”.

“It is ridiculous to suggest that the city doesn’t have the money to dedicate to this precinct,” he told colleagues.

“We have a $207million annual budget, more than a billion dollars in assets, $85m in cash reserves and very low debt while the cash rate in Australia is the lowest it’s been in decades.

“We do have the financial capacity to make these kind of important investments in partnership with city ratepayers and building owners to bring about the revitalisation of parts of our city.

“This grant of $321,000 would have brought about a co-investment of $1million from the property owners which would have benefited the whole street.”

Councillors Rob Butler, James Limnios and Lily Chen were absent and Lisa Scaffidi had to step out of the room as she owns Barrack Street property (No 138, formerly the Railway Hotel).

by DAVID BELL
Stirling stuns with low rise

July 2, 2015

WA’s biggest local government, Stirling city council, has set its lowest rate hike in almost 20 years.

As part of its 2015/16 budget, the council this week locked in a 1.9 per cent rate rise—the lowest since 1997/98 and likely the most modest of any across Perth.

Homeowners will get an average rates bill of $1225, while those in the purple circle of Mt Lawley/Inglewood/Menora/Coolbinia are likely to pay about $1300 for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house. Council finance manager Ingrid Hawking says the low rise is possible because of the large ratepayer base and big-ticket revenue items.

“An additional $31.8m is generated from the competitive rubbish service charges and $25.5m from the city’s fees and charges,” Ms Hawking says.

by EMMIE DOWLING
Hotting up over suburban high-rise

July 2, 2015

STIRLING city council is getting frustrated with the Barnett government over a planning rule that allows high-rise apartments to be built in quiet suburban streets.

The council says it alerted the government to its concerns three years ago and asked for a specific amendment to be made last year. Meanwhile, the towers, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, keep going up.

The council this week decided to again write to Mr Day, asking him to amend a policy that permits “inappropriate” multi-storey apartments on relatively small blocks.

At issue is a “multi-unit housing code” that encourages urban infill with few limitations.

“(The code) undermines the city’s efforts to focus on residential growth in and around activity centres and corridors which are better serviced by public transport…and infrastructure,” a council report reads.

Under the council’s suggested amendment, development assessment panels would have been unable to approve “several” multi-storey apartments over the past year.

Council planning manager Fraser Henderson says the council wants to make it more difficult to build multi-storey apartments in areas coded R40.

He says even if the government agrees to the change, it is likely to take months to get through all the red tape.

Cr Karen Caddy told colleagues she is concerned about “significant proposals coming forward for multi-unit dwellings” and an influx of upset residents.

The government introduced new “residential design codes” in 2010 as part of its Direction 2031 population growth plan for greater Perth. The WA planning commission has already conceded it botched the codes and is considering winding them back.

by EMMIE DOWLING
A sign of unfairness?

July 2, 2015

A BARDON park food truck trader says a ban on footpath advertising is killing their business.

Ian and Annie Gibson, who run Annie’s Woodfired Pizzas food van, say they need signs and a banner to attract customers to his secluded spot at the park.

“Not many people realise what I’m doing because they’re not used to seeing a food truck,” Mr Gibson told the Voice.

“They’re not as popular over here as they are over in the eastern states.”

• Above: Annie and Ian Gibson at their food truck at Bardon Park in Maylands. Left: Shop signs at “Dawe’s Corner” on nearby Guildford Road. Photos by Matthew Dwyer

He says he and his wife deserve the same treatment as shops at nearby “Dawe’s Corner” (Guildford Road and Seventh Avenue) which between them have about a dozen A-frame signs on footpaths and verges.

Bayswater mayor Sylvan Albert says the Gibsons’ “mobile food” permit at Bardon Park allows for advertising fitted to the vehicle only.

“No extra signage or banners were requested at the time [the permit was issued],” Cr Albert says.

He says the council will consider on July 28 what level of signage is appropriate in public parks.

by EMMIE DOWLING
Palmer wants back on Baysy

July 2, 2015

SALLY PALMER is keen to get back on Bayswater city council and will stand for central ward in October.

If successful the former councillor and well-known local real estate agent would replace either deputy mayor Michael Sabatino or Cr Chris Cornish (Cr Barry McKenna’s term ends in 2017).

Ms Palmer, 69, hopes it’s Cr Sabatino she knocks off, saying he doesn’t “walk the talk”.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’ve always looked after the ratepayers,” Cr Sabatino rebutted.

“Good luck to her.”

• Former councillor Sally Palmer, is making a comeback bid for Bayswater’s central ward. Photo by Matthew Dwyer

On council from 2007–2011, Ms Palmer is known for campaigning against a concrete plant on Collier Road.

She wants locals to get help to better manage their waste.

“I’m good at helping people at a community level,” she says.

“I want to help educate people on how to deal with bad pollution at home. Some people don’t know not to put oil down the sink.”

In 2013 Ms Palmer ran for Morley for the Greens in the state election but says if elected she’ll have no political agenda.

by EMMIE DOWLING
Sabatino low rates bid fails

July 2, 2015

BAYSWATER city council rates will rise by 3.75 per cent in 2015/16.

The council passed its budget Monday night after rejecting deputy mayor Michael Sabatino’s bid to lower the hike to three per cent.

Cr Sabatino had told colleagues the “economy is ballistic” and residents shouldn’t be hit with the larger rise.

Cr Chris Cornish accused Cr Sabatino of wanting to lower rates in order to appeal to voters ahead of October’s council elections.

Cr Cornish—a central ward rival of Cr Sabatino’s—said it would be irresponsible to set a lower rate rise without jettisoning projects and services. The financial planner told the meeting he was frustrated with the council for raiding savings in past years after lowering rates.

Cr Alan Radford backed Cr Cornish, saying the council needed the bigger hike to help cover costs such as higher staff costs ($1.3 million) and utility bills ($3.6m).

The council has cut about $130,000 from its budget for both the Earlier Settlers Luncheon and Mayoral Dinner: they will now be held biennially.

Big-ticket projects include council HQ improvement ($2m), Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary ($1.2m) and playground upgrades ($300,000).

by EMMIE DOWLING
Soil loves a good scrap

July 2, 2015

VEGIE scraps from local cafes, supermarkets and shops aren’t going to waste thanks to a group of volunteers.

Over the past five months, folk from the environmental group Transition Town Mount Hawthorn have been collecting green waste and chucking it on a compost heap at North Perth Community Garden to make potting mix.

The year-old group has five shops on board and Kim Frankowiak is confident more business owners will get involved.

“We have room to double our capacity,” he says.

• Claudia Valadaris and Kim Frankowiak of Transition Town, community garden chief Colin Scott and Jacqueline Forth of Pure Glow Cleanse are all helping stop green waste going to landfill. Photo by Matthew Dwyer

Composting a whopping 600kg per week, the group expects to produce 30 tonnes of potting mix by the end of the year. It intends to grow seedlings with it and sell some to raise funds.

Meanwhile, the group is trying to find space to create a community garden closer to its Mt Hawthorn base. A possible site is Britannia Road Reserve in Leederville.

For more information about Transition Town Mount Hawthorn, visit http://www.ttmthawthorn.org

by EMMIE DOWLING

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NAIDOC Week events
• Yirra Yaakin theatre company presents Gudirr Gudirr from July 7–9 at the State Theatre Centre’s Studio Underground;
• Mission Australia Youthbeat makes a wall art mural open to the public from July 6–8 at 48 Palmerston Street;
• Koort Karlup Kaartdijin: Heart, Home and Story is a photo exhibition from July 8 at the state library;
• NAIDOC Perth Ball is at the Convention Centre 6pm, July 10; and,
• The yarning art exhibition from Act-Belong-Commit Moorditj is at the Perth Town Hall July 24-27 from 10am-4pm.
LETTERS 4.7.15

July 2, 2015

Design puzzle
I AM puzzled by Andrew Main’s comments about the City of Vincent’s design advisory committee (“Designs on transparency,” Voice Mail, June 13, 2015).
The DAC was set up in 2011 to provide professional advice on larger development proposals in the City of Vincent.
The committee is made up of design professionals, including architects and landscape architects. These people are ready to give their time and experience to improve the quality of developments in Vincent, which will surely benefit the whole community into the future.
The committee does not approve nor refuse developments, it makes suggestions on how they can be improved. The application can then be revised before being submitted for the usual process of advertising for neighbour comment prior to being submitted to the city for approval.
Under the Barnett government’s planning changes, larger developments are submitted to a development assessment panel (DAP) for approval. No DAC member is involved in discussions on a development in which they are professionally involved.
The minutes of the DAC are published each month in the council information bulletin, an attachment to the council agenda/minutes. These can be downloaded from the city’s website.
I applaud the City of Vincent for setting up the DAC and the professionals who serve upon it for giving up their time for the betterment of our community.
Sally Lake
Chatsworth Rd, Highgate

Stop putting the boot into Wellington
I WAS both amazed and amused to read the letter from Michael Sutherland (Voice, June 6, 2015).
The core of his motivation was “constant reports from locals” regarding anti-social behaviour, from both business and residential sources.
It amazed me because I have been closely involved with the public reserve in question for more than 15 years.
Since last winter the situation mentioned in Mr Sutherland’s list of complaints, which did exist for many of those years, has been resolved to most of the neighbourhood’s satisfaction.
I was amused because in all those years on Perth city council Mr Sutherland showed little interest. I well remember approaching him regarding the situation in Wellington Square at that time and he replied it was a police matter. His state parliament colleague, Eleni Evangel, has also spoken out on this issue recently. I would respectfully advise both that grandstanding achieves little on the ground: listen to your wider community, not just some ginger groups that may lobby you.
A few weeks back I met with a Voice reporter at Wellington Square and the transformation from what had existed for many years was noted. There was almost total absence of alcohol being publicly consumed by large groups, the root cause of much of the anti-social behaviour.
I know for a fact that in January of 2012, the lord mayor had a meeting with the police commissioner on the situation in Wellington Square. From that time a new, unobtrusive policing regime was introduced that greatly reduced the general anti-social behaviour. The lord mayor also used her office to contact various government agencies to assist in what had grown into a complex issue.
Although the recipient of some criticism for not solving the neighbourhood issue immediately, the City of Perth had little power to address the many various components contributing. It was through those meetings the lord mayor had quiet, methodical negotiation with the many agencies needed to finally bring about a satisfactory solution.
TJ Maller
Goderich St, East Perth

Care more
HOMELESSNESS, that debilitating and isolating experience, is rising. There is no doubt about that. The reality, however, is that every city in the world has homelessness. Perhaps we have forgotten that homeless people have a right to the city.
I have voluntarily experienced homelessness twice. Both times it was noticeable that homelessness was aggressively unwanted in Perth. But we all have a duty to help homeless people out of their plight—to overcome this community issue the entire community, business, government and individuals, need to step up. Band-aid solutions and move-on notices enflame our frictions.
Conrad Liveris
Co-founder, Street Smugglers

Woman power across Perth
GUDONYER Catherine Ehrhardt for challenging the mayor of Bayswater (Voice, June 27, 2015). It’s another welcome step toward lifting WA local government out of its male medieval mire.
With a majority of women on more councils there will be different and healthier attitudes brought about in our communities. One only needs to look at re-invented City of Perth since the dynamic Lisa Scaffidi won the top job. Come on girls. Be inspired. Appreciate the Scaffidi role model. Step up and accept the challenge.
Ron Willis
First Ave, Mt Lawley
Q & A reveals threat for Rotto

July 2, 2015

ERIC MOXHAM is the convenor of the Rottnest Society. He says the WA government’s plans for a big private marina on the island are a risk to its status as a holiday getaway for ordinary Western Australian families.

OF all the development thought bubbles proposed by the WA tourism minister and Rottnest Island Authority, a large private marina is the one that should provoke the most debate.

The findings of the RIA-commissioned Rottnest Marina Research study, conducted by TNS consultants in 2013, are clearly the focal point of the boating management strategy referred to in the Rottnest Island management plan 2014-2019.

What is really interesting—almost breathtakingly so—is not the TNS report itself, but the way the minister and the RIA have chosen to analyse its findings so as to support what they clearly want.

Just to whet your appetite for looking at this “research”, here are the questions relating to the marina asked recently in the Legislative Council by Lynn MacLaren MLC and addressed to the parliamentary secretary representing the minister for tourism, together with the answers:

Q: In what year and month is a business plan for a marine in south Thomson Bay likely to be completed?

A: The results from a detailed feasibility study regarding the proposed marina were reported in 2013. The study outlined an economic model for constructions costs and cash flows of the marina, and addressed other aspects such as environmental impacts. However, it is the intent that industry would assess the risk of analysing the commercial viability of the proposed development and the RIA would not therefore develop its own business plan.

Q: In what year and month is it intended that expressions of interest will be invited on the proposed marina?

A: An expression of interest process for the marina development is planned to commence in August 2015, but is subject to the progress of other development proposals as stated in the Rottnest Island management plan 2014-19.

Q: What is the minister’s response to TNS’s finding that a “significant proportion of boaties reject the need for newly constructed units”, given new accommodation units associated with the marina are proposed in the management plan?

A: The proportion of respondents supporting and not supporting accommodation units in the report referred to is approximately equal. The marina feasibility study indicated that the economic viability of the marina is greater when other services such as food, beverages and accommodation are included.

Q: Is the minister concerned by TNS’s finding that of the registered users accessing boat services at Rottnest who were surveyed, only 23 per cent were “definitely or very likely” to rent a pen in the marina?

A: Registered users are a subset of the boating community and the TNS survey indicated that across the broader boating community there is strong support for a marina. It is envisaged that a marina would attract more boating visitors rather than shift use of facilities to moorings to marina berths.

Q: TNS found that four out of five existing mooring licensees surveyed said that they would not give up their existing mooring even if they got a pen in the new marina. Does the minister agree that this indicates the marina may not lead to a big increase in boat owners visiting the island?

A: The motivation for mooring licences to retain both a mooring and a marina berth is unclear. However, the determination of commercial viability will be at the risk of the respondents to any expressions of interest for a marina.

The assertions made, particularly about the business plan and registered users who’d want a pen, are certainly worthy of challenge. Where is there evidence of a detailed feasibility study that outlined “an economic model for construction costs and cash flows of the marina, and addressed other aspects such as environmental aspects”? Again, where is the evidence that “across the broader boating community there is strong support for a marina”?

What we really need to know is what guidelines will be provided to respondents when expressions of interest are sent out. So far as we know, a marina providing 250 pens rather than the 400 originally considered is favoured by the proponents but we know nothing else, and as the RIA will not have its own business plan, we will remain in the dark for quite a long time.

It is a fact that there is a long waiting list for licensed moorings at Rottnest.

Many licensees have had a mooring for many, many years and don’t necessarily make use of the regularly, but they are unlikely to give them up for any reason.

The introduction by the RIA of a system to share moorings by registering other approved users has alleviated the situation to some extent, but there will always be a shortage on certain popular days in summer, depending on wind and weather.

This does not mean it demonstrates support for a marina by ordinary boaties who visit the island.

What they would like are additional licensed moorings elsewhere, even on a shared basis. Most supporters of a marina with associated accommodation and hospitality facilities will predictably be those in high-income brackets and who own much bigger craft.

They may also not be regular visitors to Rottnest, especially outside peak summer days.

Considering the environmental and construction challenges and the cost of needing to ship all materials from the mainland, the economic viability of the proposal will not be easy to determine.

We need to do what we can to create support for a sensible and thorough debate on this misguided proposal.

It is a glaring example of the fact that the current minister and the RIA no longer regard Rottnest as “the people’s island” but rather as a contrived and commercial playground for corporate business and rich individuals. Along with some of the other development proposals, it is clear the Act and Rottnest’s status as an A-class reserve are under serious threat.
Gold standard for Storm Boy

July 2, 2015

WE’VE had more versions of Storm Boy than we’ve had popes: it’s had a book, a film and a half-dozen stage plays.

But Tom Holloway’s stage adaption for Barking Gecko and Sydney Theatre Company is the top-shelf gold standard of Colin Thiele’s tale about a boy who makes friends with a pelican called Mr Percival and a strange gent called Fingerbone Bill after his mother’s death and his father’s descent into grief.

Back for an encore performance in Perth after a run in 2013, Holloway told the Voice “when I was writing this I was actually helping my mother to her death, it was really poignant”.

“Trying to grapple with that as an adult, these things we are all trying to deal with, trying to come to terms with the loss of a parent is universal.”

“Everyone knows [Storm Boy]. Even if they don’t remember every detail about it, they know. Most people when I would talk about it their hearts would melt a bit for Mr Percival.”

Back in Shakespeare’s day when actors were faced with an elaborate scene, rather than trying to re-enact the battle of Agincourt they’d implore the audience to use their imaginations to picture the muddy French battlefield, littered by dying, arrow-pierced nobility.

• Otis Pavlovic and Anthony Mayor in Sydney Theatre Company / Barking Gecko’s Storm Boy. Photo supplied/Brett Boardman

Likewise, the sets in this production are all the same, with childlike imagination used to evoke the differences. And rather than pretending the puppets designed by Michael Scott-Mitchell are at all real, they’re obviously lampshaded and the puppetry becomes an artform of its own.

“You’re always aware that they’re puppets and there’s no pretense there,” Holloway says. “They’re designed to look like they’ve been put together by things that washed up on the beach. They’re puppeteered by two indigenous performers who are a constant presence throughout the work.

They do some puppeteering, they bring some dance moves into it, and represent the entire world the characters are living in.”

Aimed for audiences 6 and up (the storm scenes can be a bit scary for nippers), Holloway says one challenge for writing the script was to make sure he wasn’t talking down to kids.

“The story is characters dealing with big issues, [I’m] trying to find the right language feels right for the kids to deal with.

“And as well as dealing with big issues, I know the kind of theatre we saw in schools was really shit and boring… what they’re seeing is talking down to them.

“We want to share that love and excitement for what can happen on stage to younger audiences.

“Parents have to be able to see this show too. We have to engage them so they’re not sitting there bored. It also has to be a shared experience so they can enjoy it together.”

Storm Boy plays at the State Theatre Centre July 8 to 11, tickets via http://www.ticketek.com.au

by DAVID BELL