Perth Voice Interactive

ORCs are invading Vincent, provoking a fiery battle in the council chamber.

The “On Road Cafes”—where tables and chairs replace car bays—were trialled outside Foam cafe in Leederville for nine months, and were so popular they’ll now be rolled out across another six cafes.

But nearby cafe owner Debbie Saunders of 50ml is unhappy Foam’s ORC has been extended for another nine months, while her stretch of Oxford Street is not getting one.

Cr Ros Harley agreed it was unfair, saying the licences should be spread around.

“I am concerned about the lack of equity and the lack of transparency,” she told colleagues.

“[Foam] didn’t do us a favour, we collaborated with them on this and frankly they’ve got a great benefit out of it, [and] the street benefited. Let’s make it equitable.”

Cr Matt Buckels said that would be “trying to overmanage vibrancy”. Most agreed to let Foam keep a half-size ORC.

Councillors also decided to change the name from ORCs to the less awesome “parklets” so people understand they aren’t just for cafes, but can be set up outside laundromats and other businesses.

It’ll cost $30,000 to put the parklets in place for the next nine months.

Dudley Maier—who’d brought the idea back from San Francisco—wants to come up with a formal parklet policy so the approach isn’t so slap-dash.

“This whole process, I think we should ditch it and start again,” Cr Harley said. “We’ve made an absolute dog’s breakfast of this. This is, in my view, poor decision-making on the run.”

by DAVID BELL

Traumatised refugees are learning to cook healthy Aussie grub in Perth.

The classes, organised by the Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors, help refugees to socialise and forget their troubled pasts.

People from countries such as Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran and Iraq are flocking to the classes.

Nutritionist Rachel Pearce is trying to wean refugees off traditional dishes that use lots of salt and oil.

“I’m trying to get them to explore more healthy options using herbs and less oil in their cooking,” she says.

“We cook mostly vegetarian dishes because Hindus don’t east beef, Muslims don’t eat pork and Tamils don’t eat much protein at all.

“We do vegetarian burritos and soups, but the Aussie parmie is a bit hard—because it’s deep-fried!”

Until recently, ASETTS was staging lessons with a rickety, makeshift stove.

Local businesses, including The Kitchen Factory, Harding Plumbing and Outtrim Electrics, came to the rescue and installed a flash new kitchen for free.

“The kitchen means we can cook a bigger variety of meals and more people can attend the classes,” Ms Pearce says.

“The classes are a good way for refugees to get settled in the community and forget about whatever traumatic experience they have been through.”

Refugees travel from Perth’s outer suburbs, including Mirrabooka, Gosnells and Kwinana, to attend ASETTS’ classes in Beaufort Street.

The classes are held during term time in eight-week blocks.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

A public meeting will be held over the East Perth concrete batching plants, amidst fears the Barnett government intends to let them operate well into the future.

Vincent city councillor Josh Topelberg—who is seeking re-election next month—proposed the meeting after the WA planning commission edited the council’s new town planning scheme, banning residential developments near the plants.

The plants were meant to have closed by now but WA planning minister John Day gave them an extension to 2017.

Cr Topelberg doesn’t oppose the plants’ existence in the short-term but fears preventing home developments will condemn the area to a long-term industrial future.

The WAPC’s intervention has had the curious effect of making several recently-approved residential projects a “non-conforming use”, which may present difficulties when homeowners try to sell.

Cr Topelberg says a meeting that heard from the council, the government, the plants and affected parties would be useful.

by DAVID BELL

Names of locals who served in World War I are being sought for a memorial in Axford Park.

Vincent council is working with the Mt Hawthorn RSL to find the names to inscribe on the plaque, but records from those days are scant.

David Millar is a veteran of Vietnam and East Timor, and says the servicemen and women were under-recognised in their own time.

“After World War I, when they got home they were told to get off their backsides and go to work.”

Cr John Carey, whose dad Jack served in WWII, says these commemorations are important to remind people today what their parents and grandparents went through.

Mayor Alannah MacTiernan says along with names of local servicemen, the organisers are hoping people will come forward with ideas for how to commemorate the Anzac Day centenary on April 25, 2015. If you know of any locals who served in World War I, submit names by October 11 on 9273 6016 or mail@vincent.wa.gov.au

by DAVID BELL

With their nudie animals on a bike sculpture such a big hit, artists Gillie and Marc have lent Vincent city council three more artworks.

Crab Riders features the familiar anthromorphic dog and rabbit riding giant river crabs. It’s for sale for $90,000, but the NSW artists are offering a long-term loan to Vincent. It’ll go in at Birdwood Square and cost about $10,000 to ship and install.

Cr Ros Harley expressed concern the council was paying big bucks to freight and install what was effectively a publicly funded advertisement for the artists.

“I actually find these three pieces of art quite charming and cheerful and fun,” Cr Matt Buckels countered.

A traffic trial has been brought to a premature end after Mt Hawthorn residents mobbed Vincent city council’s chamber Tuesday.

The council has reopened Merredin Street after residents in Bondi and Matlock Streets complained about being flooded with rat-runners.

• About 200 Stirling locals have attended a rally in Dianella to oppose premier Colin Barnett’s amalgamation plans. Photo supplied

Senior Liberal MP Michael Sutherland has joined a growing chorus of state Liberals opposed to premier Colin Barnett’s council amalgamations.

Last weekend the speaker of state parliament—a job with the status of a Cabinet minister—took to the stage at a rally in Dianella to oppose plans to shift suburbs out of Stirling.

“I know that the City of Stirling will be presenting a case to the state government for the retention of Dianella, Inglewood, Menora and Mt Lawley in Stirling,” he told the 200-strong crowd. “I support such a proposal and will write to the minister for local government to support the city’s submission.”

Following the rally (mayor David Boothman, Liberal councillor David Lagan and Labor MP Lisa Baker also spoke) a petition with more than 2800 signatures was presented to state parliament. Veteran councillor and former mayor Terry Tyzack says hundreds of council staff could lose their jobs if the amalgamations go ahead.

“Around 200 staff could be affected with the loss of libraries and other facilities,” he says. “If the recipient councils don’t want every member of staff uprooted, then who will pay their wages? When Maylands moved from Stirling to Bayswater, Bayswater council didn’t want all of our staff.”

Labor MPs Ken Travers and Janine Freeman also attended.

Meanwhile, Stirling council has released the last in its series of spoof posters protesting the mergers. In the grand finale, Cr Boothman is photoshopped as John Lennon. He has already been Barack Obama, William Wallace (Braveheart) and Luke Skywalker.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

Stirling mayor David Boothman has been re-elected to council unopposed after no-one else nominated for Balga ward.

“I don’t think this necessarily represents any voter apathy, but more that people know it is hard to depose an incumbent, especially the mayor,” he says, gleefully.

“Without sounding big-headed, it may also mean that ratepayers think I’m dong a good job.

“In some of the other wards, where incumbents are standing down, there are numerous candidates.”

Cr Boothman says he’s “keen to stand again” for mayor—in Stirling the mayor is elected by the council, not the public—but he’ll “wait and see who gets elected and what support I have after that”.

Cr Boothman has been mayor since 2007.

Veteran councillor Terry Tyzack—a former mayor—was also elected unopposed, to Inglewood ward.

“Me and David [Boothman] have saved the council $60,000,” the 74-year-old quipped. “That’s how much it costs to run a postal ballot for each ward.

“I’ve still got loads of energy and look forward to serving the people of Inglewood for another term.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK