A FORMER sub-contractor for Stirling city council has been gaoled for 15 months for bribing a council employee. In November a jury found Kim Laurence Walter, 56, guilty of providing a council contractor a $43,450 bobcat to use on his hobby farm. The court found the bobcat was a “sweetener” in return for Walter’s company Maintenance and Management Solutions being awarded $346,255 of work from the council. A former council manager who awarded work to contractors, who was a key witness, committed suicide on the eve of a corruption and crime commission hearing into the $5 million contracts scandal. Astonishingly, and against all precedent, the dead man’s name remains suppressed. This is the final case stemming from the rorts investigation, with six other private contractors having already been convicted.
Perth Voice Interactive
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RON D’RAINE’S “giraffe kiss” captured hearts worldwide when it featured on the front page of the West Australian 19 years ago, and people still clamour to buy the photograph that was taken at Perth Zoo.But at Copenhagen zoo they feed their giraffes to lions, in front of primary school children, in the name of science.
Vision of young Marius getting his brain literally blown out with a bolt gun before being publicly dissected has shocked staff at zoos and wildlife parks worldwide, including Perth.
“Euthanasia is seen as an absolute last resort and only where an animal’s welfare is compromised,” CEO Susan Hunt says.
She says Perth Zoo is committed to the lifelong care of animals, even when they can no longer contribute to the gene pool.
“There are many instances of animals continuing to be cared for at Perth Zoo when they are quite old as we consider we have a strong duty of care to our animals.”
Euthanasia is seen as an absolute last resort and only where an animal’s welfare is compromised
She says Perth Zoo participates in planned breeding programs to help avoid the situation of having animals that are surplus to need.
Hate mail escalated this week as Danish authorities defended their actions and their right to kill animals deemed surplus to requirements. Officials have received death threats.
Marius was killed despite pleas by tens of thousands of online petitioners and offers by zoos and wildlife parks to take in the healthy 18-month-old giraffe.
A US billionaire even offered to buy the animal for his Beverly Hills garden.
Following an autopsy Marius’s carcass was butchered in front of school children and fed to the zoo’s big cats. Some was sent to researchers.Copenhagen zoo’s scientific director Bengt Holst says giraffes are selected to ensure the best genes are passed down to ensure the species’ long-term survival.
There would be no outrage had they killed a pig or an antelope, he noted.
According to the European stud book for giraffes, which dates back to 1828, only five giraffes have been euthanised for conservation reasons.
Perth Zoo has four giraffes including Misha, whose kiss was caught on camera in 1995. Misha is approaching 24, Marama is 22, Armani (the only male) is 11 and Asali is 6.
(A giraffe called Tiny, born at Perth Zoo in 1942. was 31 when he died in 1973 of old age. Tiny was reputed to be one of the oldest giraffes in captivity at the time).
Facebook and youtube users have largely condemned the Copenhagen killing which can be viewed at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2555079/Danish-zoo-kills-young-giraffe-deemed-surplus-feeds-lions.html. Viewers are warned about the graphic footage.
“Crikey!” was the response from Australia Zoo in Queensland, where dead chooks are often fed to hungry crocs in front of audiences.
by CARMELO AMALFI
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• Cr Josh Topelberg BLOCKS of flats could be banned in low density parts of Mt Hawthorn, Leederville and North Perth under a plan being investigated by Vincent council.
The WA government’s push for more density in the inner city suburbs has led to locals fronting the council, unhappy with whoppers planned for next door.
Cr Josh Topelberg points out that just because people label them “flat blocks” doesn’t mean multiple dwellings are always bad: “It provides housing choice, it provides affordability,” he says of the density rollout. “A blanket ban on them in areas may not be the best solution.”
Staffers will start looking at which areas could be included, though any planning scheme change has to get the thumbs up from the density-happy WA planning department.
by DAVID BELL
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• George Domahidy at work as locals scoot past. Photo by Jeremy Dixon. ANGOVE STREET’S history has been evoked in a new mural by Perth artist George Domahidy.
Building owner Hank Ekamper—who contributed to the costs with Vincent council—says he wanted something that touched on the trams that used to run down the street.
“It’s beautiful, we’re very happy with it,” Mr Ekamper says.
It’s the second mural he’s pitched in for, and he owns a few buildings on the street having started buying up back in 1980: “There was bugger-all here when I bought in!” he chuckles.
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Is it all about Alannah?
WITH little more than three months having elapsed since the federal election, the federal member for Perth Alannah MacTiernan must already be feeling irrelevant, twiddling her thumbs on the opposition benches in Canberra, that she has to attack our national anthem—on Australia Day of all days—to get some media attention?
In the Voice (“Missing the mayoral chains,” January 23, 2014) she admits she “misses being Vincent mayor and has mixed feelings about her new job as a federal opposition backbench MP”.
The 62-year-old grandmother also said that “on a personal level, it may not have been the best decision for me, but it was best for the party”.
Here’s a thought: What about the 96,000 voters she’s supposed to be representing… do they get a look in, or is it just about her and Labor?
Get used to it Alannah: Given the drubbing you received with Labor’s two-party preferred vote going backwards to its lowest level in 33 years, you and your Labor buddies have most likely at least another nine more years in federal opposition.
Your irrelevant backbench hiatus is only just starting. No wonder Stephen Smith quit when he did.
What other pap media pieces can we expect?
The good people of Perth deserve so much more than to be represented in Canberra by someone who doesn’t want to be there and continues to have absolutely no influence whatsoever on federal government matters.
Darryl Moore
The Ed says: Mr Moore was the Liberal candidate for Perth at the 2013 federal election.Truth is a smoking ruin
I AM appalled at the misinformation emanating from councillors of the City of Perth, regarding the former Michelides tobacco building, Northbridge (“Factory smoked by PCC,” Perth Voice February 1, 2014).
Cr James Limnios is reported as saying “the applicant’s heritage report made it clear there was no heritage value, so he was in favour of demolition.” Minutes of the council meeting on August 27, 2013, state: “The documentation presented by the State Heritage Office, and the documentation presented on behalf of the owners, demonstrates that the Michelides Tobacco Factory located at 92 Roe Street, Northbridge does meet the criteria for inclusion on the State Heritage Register”.
How can this be interpreted as saying the building has no heritage value? Expert assessment by the peak heritage body, the State Heritage Office, states the place, also classified by The National Trust of Australia (WA), has aesthetic, historic and social values and is a rare example.
Any one of these values would justify consideration for inclusion on the state heritage register. Despite this, the council gave priority to the owners’ assessment which argued the fabric of the building had been “compromised and therefore should not be retained”.
Then “In summary, given the divergent views expressed above it is considered that the case of heritage registration of the building fabric is unproven”. On the basis of this inaccurate summary, Cr Limnios and the majority of other councillors say the place has no heritage value and the minister has declined to approve heritage registration.
The modifications to the Roe Street frontage referred to by Ms Scaffidi have mainly been expansion as the business grew. The original small factory opened in 1924 at the western end of the site and was doubled in size with a remodelled art deco frontage in 1934.
The building was again doubled in 1939, continuing the art deco frontage up to Lake Street with design by the same architects. More recent fenestration changes do not seriously compromise the character of the facade and are capable of restoration.
Vyonne Geneve
President, WA Art Deco Society
Contour Rd, Roleystone
A service to journalism
ABOUT 50 years ago I worked under the gaze of Harold Evans. More recently he was knighted for his services to journalism.
If I’d let a report start with “Perth city council…” there’d be a note in my pigeon hole next day, “From the Editor” with the published report pasted to it. Beside this, a scribbled example of how it might have started: “Much to the dismay…”, etc.
The note would most likely wind up with a sentiment such as “Take heart”.
Ron Willis
First Ave, Mount Lawley
The Ed says: Given Sir ‘arry is a legendary UK editor we reckon if you’d started a story with “Perth city council” he’d have scratched his head before kicking your behind.Trolley tyrants
IS it too much to ask that lazy shoppers at North Perth Plaza return their trolleys to the trolley return—a very short walk—rather than dump them by the bicycle rack?
Some of us who actually get off our rear ends and use our legs for transport are sick of having to move half-a-dozen trolleys every time we shop, to be able to safely park our bikes. I even said to a woman on one occasion, “this is a bike rack, not a trolley return,” whereupon she said “oh” and left her trolley there! Perhaps we should start taking up car bays with our bikes instead.
Georgina Ker
Vincent St, Mt Lawley -
“JACK SPRAT could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean…”
I know how Mrs Sprat feels, ordering Circa’s Venetian fried custard for dessert I doubt there was much lean in it.
But finding its lime sauce too sharp for my weakling taste buds I did a swap and thoroughly enjoyed the yoghurt panna cotta ($14) which my lunch companion had found too rich and creamy.
Between us we did indeed “lick the platters clean”.
The prequel to these amazing desserts was a shared order of herb and fennel fried, salted, chickpeas ($5), and bowl of olives, with toasted ciabatta and a particularly fine EVOO ($8).
Raved and raved
My friend was too well mannered to shut me up as I raved, and raved, and raved, over the chickpeas, in between shovelling them into my mouth.
Crisp and salty on the outside they had a fine coating of oil to help soak up the fresh pan-fried herbs, while inside they were soft and delicious—and I’m pretty sure I ate well more than my fair share.
Even before we stepped foot into Circa I’d been impressed by the service: On booking I’d been asked if we had any special dietary needs, and where we might like to sit.
Death by chocolate, indeed.
The same friendly, attentive service continued throughout our meal, with bottles of water appearing almost by magic.
My mate ordered the seared scallops ($22), which arrived sitting on a bed of roasted, mashed garlic and accompanied by a water chestnut and apple salad.
The scallops were divine, firm but soft and full of the flavour of the sea.
The once-humble beetroot, thought by Aussie kids everywhere to grow ready-sliced in cans and fit only for burgers, has come into its own of late with a number of eateries including it in a variety of forms.
At Circa it was a beetroot ravioli with sage butter and hazelnuts: At $26 for a moderately sized serve I eyed my plate quizzically—until the first mouthful.
If I was a religious person I’d convert to the Church of Beetroot Ravioli: My tastebuds wept in rapture as the soft pink filling oozed across my tongue, the deep purple sauce teasing accents and flavours from the dish with a heavenly caress.
The good thing about smaller serves is there’s room for dessert.
Voice snapper Jeremy Dixon arrived just in time and was blown away by his chocolate mousse ($14).
The rich, soft cloud sat on an even richer slice of chocolate, with the chocolate ice cream sitting on a bed of chocolate “dirt”. Death by chocolate, indeed.
With a couple of very good coffees under our belt we rolled out of Circa vowing to return. What a find.
by JENNY D’ANGER
Circa
676 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley
9371 9971
Open Mon–Sat lunch &
dinner + breakfast Sat, Sun -
“OUR youth love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise. They contradict their parents…and tyrannise their teachers.”Opinion is out on whether this was a lament by Socrates or Plato, but it is safe to say the oft-heard groan “kids of today” has been around for a few thousand years.
Onefivezeroseven follows Barking Gecko Theatre’s Driving Into Walls, which toured Australia to critical acclaim in 2012, and is a look at teenagers and what makes them tick.
Playwright Suzie Miller and Gecko director John Sheedy have crafted a play from the raw content of hundreds of interviews with teens across the nation.
“Their stories paint an amazing picture of young people that has humbled and enlightened Suzie and I. We’re inspired to be creating a dynamic theatrical event that reveals not only the face of young Australia, but the decisions they will make for the rest of us in the next decade,” Sheedy says.
Onefivezeroseven is drawn from the average number of breaths a teenager takes each hour, the number of things they own and the number of emotional moments they have a day.
It explores how young people’s identities and sense of belonging intermingles with their possessions, opening wide the door to their inner sanctum, Sheedy says.
Much of the challenges facing teenagers, as they morph into adults, remain the same down the ages, the director says: “[There] are common themes.”
But the biggest challenge facing 21st century teens, and their parents, is the internet.
“If the net was a country it would be the fifth most populated country in the world—and the population would be teenagers.”
The demands that such open access places on young people is immense, Sheedy says.
“I admire them for bravely navigating this world…while still being connected to the tactile world.”
Teens were asked how much time they spend on the net.
The average was five to six hours a day—but some said 20.
“I said wow, there’s only 24 hours in the day. And they said ‘and your point is?’” Sheedy laughs.
The youngsters were also asked what they would like to see changed in Australia.
“Eighty per cent said ‘get rid of Tony Abbott’.”
They also want to be able to vote at 16: “They say they can legally have sex and should be allowed to vote,” Sheedy says, adding they predominately had strong views about caring for the environment, and supported equal marriage.
Onefivezeroseven is on at the State Theatre, Northbridge, February 21 to March 1, performances 1 and 7pm. Tix at ticketek or 1300 795 012
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ADULT kids still living at home with mum and dad has reached such epic proportions in the US and Canada that Crowded Nest Syndrome Day was proclaimed in 2012.
Kathleen Shaputis, founder of the day and author of The Crowded Nest; Surviving the Return of Adult Children jokes you know things are crowded when:
• you have to take a number to use the bathroom
• there’s a waiting list for the washing machine
• $250 of groceries disappears in less than 24 hours.
Of course none of that would be a problem in this charming four/five-bedroom/two-bathroom Queen Street, Bayswater home.
Slide back the plantation shutters and step out onto the generous wrap-around verandah…
The two-storey federation-style abode, sitting on just 366sqm, is two domiciles in one—downstairs for the kids and upstairs for the folks.
Step through the double leadlight and stained glass doors into the entry and you’ll find an open-plan living-dining kitchen and a couple of bedrooms, including one that could be a main bedroom, and a bathroom.
Golden timbered floors glow underfoot as you head upstairs where everything is repeated, only on a larger scale, with a generous living/dining area and a spacious kitchen, including a walk-in pantry.
From the sink you gaze out across the leafy suburb to the hills in the distance.
Or slide back the plantation shutters and step out onto the generous wrap-around verandah, with its terrific timbered cathedral ceiling.
This is a great spot for alfresco dining, or simply enjoying the peace, sans kids, over breakfast.
And it’s not a bad spot to do a bit of plane spotting, while being far enough away not to be disturbed by the engines.
On the Bayswater/Maylands border you are only a short stroll away from parklands, cafe strips, shops and a cycle way that leads into Perth.
And when the kids finally do shift out, there’s always the ageing parents who can move in.
by JENNY D’ANGER
54 Queen Street, Bayswater
EOI from $799,000
Carlos Lehn 0416 206 736
Acton Mt Lawley 9272 2488 -
• BUBBLING WITH ENTHUSIASM: Scitech puppeteer Tim Crane helps four-year-olds Kaila Murray and Abbie Morrison get into science. Photo by Steve Grant SCITECH’S new toddlerfest hopes to get the little ’uns interested in science with activities for kids zero to five.
Rather than toddlers having to get their heads around E=MC2, Scitech’s aiming to get kids engaged in science through a more sensory experience.
There’ll be playdough maths so kids can experiment with shapes, farm animals to pet and learn about, the simple science behind bubbles, a toddler gym circuit to develop motor skills and a zero-to-three baby safe zone.
Scitech’s aiming to get kids engaged in science through a more sensory experience
A Ngala early parenting practitioner will also be down there every morning to answer questions about child development, along with community health nurses doing free development checks.
Toddlerfest runs February 10 to 23 and Children under four are free, and there’s more info at scitech.org.au
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• A heritage listing doesn’t stop development says federal Perth Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan. Photo by Jeremy Dixon FEDERAL Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan has condemned Perth lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi for dismissing the concerns of heritage supporters (Voice, February 1, 2014).
At last week’s Perth city council meeting Ms Scaffidi told people fighting to save the Michelides tobacco factory that if they wanted a say on the building’s future they should buy it. The PCC then voted to allow its demolition.
Ms MacTiernan says the comments don’t “augur well” for the capital’s heritage buildings under Ms Scaffidi’s leadership.
“It’s a strange concept, going in the wrong direction,” the former WA planning minister says.
Ms MacTiernan says there would be no need for a WA heritage act if the only people able to have a say were property owners.
She says the Act—introduced in 1991 under a former WA state Labor government—helped stem the destruction of Perth’s heritage stock. In the 1960s and ‘70s—when the only people able to save heritage buildings were owners—vast swathes were flattened.
In 1992 Ms Scaffidi’s husband Joe illegally demolished the facade of the Old Railway Hotel, defying a Perth city council conservation order on the property. He was one of the first people to be prosecuted under the WA heritage act and was fined $10,000 and ordered to reinstate the facade.
The lord mayor says her comments at last week’s meeting have been taken out of context.
She says they were aimed not at concerned individuals but at groups like the WA Art Deco Society and the Museum of Perth lobby led by Dallas Robertson, “who show sudden and even eleventh hour interest in such matters, but little else than that in regards to heritage preservation”.
“If they are serious their earlier interventions would be better served,” Ms Scaffidi says, adding she stands by the council’s decision to permit demolition of the 90-year-old property.
The WA heritage council last year recommended heritage listing the whole site, and PCC staff had agreed but, following owner Graham Hardie’s presentation to a committee, the council voted to reject heritage listing. That prompted WA heritage minister Albert Jacobs to ignore the heritage council’s recommendation.
Ms MacTiernan doesn’t want the whole building saved, but reckons Perth’s already diminished pool of art deco buildings should be protected, by keeping the factory facade.
Retaining a mix of old and new buildings makes for a more exciting city
“This is one of those cases where it’s not hard, because it’s not going to impede development of that site.”
The fiery former planning minister is in fact a heritage property owner putting her “money where her mouth is”: She purchased an old building in Maylands in order to open a small bar and supported its heritage listing, “even though it limited what I can do”.
Retaining a mix of old and new buildings makes for a more exciting city, Ms MacTiernan says: “If you want a world-class city you can’t just have a development monoculture…a world-class city has depth and a measure of unpredictability.”
As planning minister she’d insisted the East Perth Redevelopment Authority retain old buildings.
“We walked street by street and I said ‘don’t take them down because they are really interesting buildings that add an element of excitement’.”
But Ms Scaffidi is quick to point out that during Ms MacTiernan’s time as planning minister the Labor government tried to resume the Michelides factory for a new police complex.
“There was no discussion then of any intended retention of the facade,” she notes.
The complex was eventually built at the corner of Fitzgerald and Roe Streets.
by JENNY D’ANGER
Perth Voice Interactive 