Perth Voice Interactive

“NOISE and filth…six days a week”: many long-term Vincent residents are struggling with the WA government’s new turbo-charged housing density regime.

Introduced in 2010, generous allowances for multiple dwellings has resulted in an unprecedented jump in applications from developers keen to knock down single houses in Vincent’s dormitory suburbs and build blocks of units.

At each fortnightly council meeting there’ll inevitably be a couple of applications sitting before councillors, while the state government-controlled development assessment panel will look at another one or two each month.

Each application is accompanied by a handful of objections, with locals expressing concerns about height, bulk, extra traffic and the loss of their privacy.

The age-old image of the backyard as a sanctuary from the world is under serious threat.

The allowances were introduced to encourage more people into inner-city suburbs and curb urban sprawl as Perth’s population booms.

But resident Jay Simpson told Vincent’s development assessment panel this week that “since moving to Highgate, there has been endless demolition and construction near my property causing major disruption to lifestyle at our apartments and many others,” she said, referring to the big St Mark’s development nearby.

“The noise and the filth has been quite debilitating and has continued for some 18 months, six days a week.

“As the construction opposite our apartments draws to a close, we now receive the notice regarding the construction at 103 Harold Street [the now-approved project at the Pacific motel site].”

She said when unit blocks are too dense it can lead to “ghetto-like” problems.

“The sense of community is slowly being eroded by high rises which impact on the village atmosphere on Beaufort and surrounds, and turn the vibrant Highgate into the poor cousin of Mount Lawley.

“I think the council needs to show leadership around keeping the great Highgate vibe and saying ‘no’ to high-rise developers who are casting a shadow over our homes and our lifestyle.”

Last year Rosie Zappacosta let fly at the council over a two-storey block of flats on Angove Street.

“One bedroom, fly-in, fly-out workers who don’t give a shit about the area. We do not want them all.”

The same month Robert Hart was voicing similar concerns about a six-unit block on Anderson Street in Mt Hawthorn: “You say it conforms. Show me a block of six in that area. There isn’t one. There won’t be a tree left in Mt Hawthorn.”

Anna Chin was not impressed by the St Mark’s development when it first went before Vincent: “It still looks like a 1960s block of flats which I totally object to,” she said.

Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan has previously said the council must handle the roll-out carefully, only allowing extra height for excellent designs and putting hard limits on “discretionary” rules.

At Tuesday’s DAP meeting Ms MacTiernan said: “The area is changing, and we’ve got to accept that as Perth is growing rapidly—in the inner-city there’ll be increased density.

“[Highgate] is an appropriate area to get some of that density.

“This is not just about developers making money; it’s lifestyles changing and more people wanting to move into apartments in the area.”

While some residents watch their suburbs change with concern, the upside is that Highgate, North Perth and West Perth are becoming increasingly affordable because of the diverse housing options.

People are voting with their feet, with cheaper apartments selling like hotcakes.

The Albert in North Perth is another multiple dwelling project that attracted community ire. Yet all 11 apartments were sold before the foundations were even laid.

With prices averaging $450,000 to $600,000, they’re half the price of nearby freestanding houses.

by DAVID BELL

Another company is planning to take a crack at redeveloping the old Pacific Motel site in Highgate.

The abandoned motel, now demolished, was a magnet for graffiti and vagrants for years, but the state government’s development assessment panel this week approved a five-storey, 66-unit project for the site.

Locals were concerned the building would overshadow nearby neighbours including the old Progressive Spiritualists church.

Vincent’s planning rules allow up to three storeys plus a loft. An extra storey was granted for “exemplary design,” and the applicant’s representative Ben Doyle argued for the loft to be turned into a fully-fledged fifth storey.

DAP members Megan Bartle and Clayton Higham agreed, along with the council’s representative Alannah MacTiernan.

“Transitional areas are always difficult ones to deal with, but I think on balance this is a good design response to this type of site, given the neighbours it has,” Mr Higham said.

“The building has more bulk that it should have,” Ms MacTiernan conceded, but added “there’ve been many proposals on this site, many of them not very good, and I think we’ve finally got something on the site of very high quality”.

Only Cr Dudley Maier lodged a no-vote, saying the height limits should be adhered to.

Church-goer Ann Brown said she only received a letter about the DAP meeting the night before. The letter said she had to apply 72 hours before the meeting to give a deputation (which was impossible given the time she received it).

With such short notice, Ms Brown said the church was unable to organise a representative with the right expertise to come along.

Ms Bartle, who chaired the meeting, apologised for the stuff-up but said the DAP was aware of the church’s previous submission.

“We’ll take that on board and try to improve that process,” Ms Bartle said. “I appreciate that doesn’t help you today.”

The site has had planning approval on two previous occasions (for three- and four-storey options) with the last bid scuttled when the global financial crisis hit.

by DAVID BELL

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Prince Lane’s spruce up is nearing completion, with artist Leanne Bray putting the final touches on a mural. Perth city council is spending $800,000 on the enhancement, including new granite kerbing, lighting, CCTV and art.

It’s part of its ongoing laneway project that’s also seen Wolf, Howard and Grand lanes get hundreds of thousands of dollars in upgrades over the past few years.

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The new WA multicultural services centre may be named the “Nick Catania Wellness Centre”.

Talks are underway between the multicultural service and the North Perth branch of Bendigo Bank’s North Perth community bank branch, which Mr Catania chairs.

The Voice understands the WAMSC is keen to name the Farmer Street seniors centre after the former Vincent mayor, or after the bank itself, in order to secure funding.

In a confidential item considered by Vincent city council last week—only part of which has now been made public—staff suggested that councillors consider the two names and allow CEO John Giorgi to broker the naming rights deal.

Appropriate

That suggestion was scribbled out, and instead the council authorised mayor Alannah MacTiernan to enter discussions with both parties, “as to the most appropriate way to recognise sponsorship”.

Ms MacTiernan says both the “Nick Catania” and “Bendigo Bank” names are being considered.

“The council is very aware that the Bendigo Bank has been an amazingly generous benefactor, they understand the amount of money they put into the area is quite extraordinary,” she said.

“Some councillors had concern about the use of a commercial name. To me it is quite commonplace now, giving naming rights in return for philanthropy.”

by DAVID BELL

Kids in Vincent (along with mayor Alannah MacTiernan and the council’s Aboriginal consultant Ingrid Cummings) geared up for Naidoc Week by painting the new ping pong table at Weld Square with indigenous motifs this week.

Weld Square, which Vincent council co-named Wongi Park (‘talking place’ in Nyungar), will host a Naidoc concert on Sunday featuring the Bartlett Brothers and Urban Youth Crew, storytime sessions and a free traditional barbecue from midday to 3pm.

Weld Square’s recently been the subject of a council spruce up with new pathways, public furniture, a ping pong table and basketball court going in.

Shortly after the upgrades local copper Mark Stoneman told the Safer Vincent committee they’d had “an astounding impact” on reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.

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Bunnings has been granted retrospective approval for its Inglewood garden centre.

The hardware giant has operated a garden centre without planning permission since 1994, infuriating locals who’ve long complained about traffic problems.

Insufficient parking at the store, at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Beaufort Street, means customers frequently clog surrounding streets.

Stirling city council initially rejected Bunnings’ planning application, but it appealed to the State Administrative Tribunal which mediated a compromise.

It includes a fleet of conditions including restrictions on loading times.

Cr Terry Tyzack, who attended the SAT mediation, said it was a good outcome for nearby residents.

“Now trucks can only leave the site via Beaufort Street and unloading is not permitted in the car park, improving traffic flow,” Cr Tyzack told the Voice.

“We also stipulated landscaping along the Eighth Avenue, and made it harder for trucks to enter via the avenues.”

The Wesfarmers-owned hardware giant had originally proposed adding 10 car bays and a specific delivery area for trucks, if it was allowed to keep the garden centre.

In February councillors voted unanimously to reject the application, citing increased traffic, public opposition and inconsistency with the city planning scheme.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

Paddle steamer owner Chas Cox is offering a $50,000 spotter’s fee to anyone who can find a buyer for his vintage Decoy.

Mr Cox has been trying to flog the Decoy for $1.8million for the last two years, but aside from a few casual inquiries from businessmen in China and an inspection by mining mogul Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, interest has been scant.

He’s also approached the WA government about incorporating the steamer into the Elizabeth Quay project as a tourist attraction or floating restaurant, but has had no bites.

He has now reduced the price to $1.2m and started using social media to generate interest.

“The low interest is partly down to the economy and the fact that nobody really puts paddle steamer into Gumtree or eBay—it’s a very specialised item to sell,” said 68-year-old Cox.

“I’d like it to stay in WA and would be open to a half-share option, but I’m in semi-retirement and getting too old to run it on a day-to-day operational basis.”

Mr Cox said the paddle steamer has a liquor and gaming license and was profitable during it 20 year-run. The Decoy was built in Fremantle in 1986 using a 106-year-old engine.

According to Mr Cox, the only other operational sea-going paddle steamer in the world is the Waverley in Glasgow, used for nostalgic cruises “doon the water” on the River Clyde.

Sea-faring millionaires can contact Chas at http://www.psdecoy.com.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

A 61-YEAR-OLD woman was mugged by two young girls in Maylands on Monday night.

The woman was leaving the toilets at The RISE on Eighth Avenue around 6.45pm when the girls, aged about 15 years old, pushed her to the ground and tried to snatch her bag.

She managed to keep hold of it and staggered back inside The RISE once they fled, but discovered her wallet had been taken in the scuffle.

Police officers rocked up 30 minutes later and were given CCTV images of the alleged offenders, who staff  believe left personal items at the community centre.

In recent years, Maylands traders and residents have been plagued with anti-social behaviour.

Last year Bayswater council rangers reported, “a significant increase in the number of reports relating to anti-social behaviour in and around reserves at The RISE, Grand Promenade Reserve, Halliday Park and Pat O’Hara Reserve”.

In response Bayswater mayor Terry Kenyon held a crisis summit with WA Police and local stakeholders to brainstorm an action plan.

Punch-ups

A local resident, who regularly uses The RISE’s gym, said an increased police presence curbed “punch-ups, defecating and yobbish behaviour” on the centre’s lawn late last year, but it had returned.

“Recently I saw an Indian couple going for a walk at dusk near The RISE and they got king-hit by a guy for no reason,” he said.

“Will someone have to die before something is done to tackle the problem?

“Even a local church has fenced off its grounds because of yobs camping.”

Maylands Labor MP Lisa Baker says the Barnett government needs to reinstate the 10 extra police officers temporarily assigned to Bayswater police station last summer.

“The latest crime statistics show crime in the suburb of Maylands has increased by an average of almost 30 per cent in the past two years,” she said.

“Just last month, two chefs from a local café were attacked when they tried to stop two people from stealing a car belonging to a staff member.

“The people of Maylands want to see a stronger and more permanent police presence in their community.”

Following the incident, Bayswater has increased security patrols around The RISE.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK