Dear Echo News,
Let me get this straight – Kalamunda council is entertaining the idea of agreeing to a long-term lease by a commercial organisation over Jorgensen Park, a place used weekly by hundreds of Kalamunda residents for the purpose of free enjoyment of nature?
A park that is expressly managed for regional recreation and is designated by the City of Kalamunda as a “reserve with high biodiversity value” (COK Local Biodiversity Strategy 2023-2043).
In flagrant disregard of this, a private company may be allowed to excise 15ha of the park for up to 20 weeks, charge entry fees and profit from that exclusive use. In other words, the very opposite of free recreation.
This is a fundamental attack on our green spaces, and on people’s right to enjoy our local environment.
The city has given the public a disgracefully short period to respond.
Even more cynically, the most fundamental information is being withheld from that same public because the city has signed a non-disclosure agreement.
So, we are being asked to comment on an event for which we have not been provided with the most fundamental information.
No description of the event, no cost breakdowns, no environmental assessments or other relevant matters on which to base that opinion.
No answers to the potential adverse impact on the bush environment, the bushfire risk, traffic and access problems, noise and inconvenience to local residents living nearby, and the inevitable costs that will be incurred by the city before, during and after this protracted for-profit event.
This is undemocratic, sinister and very likely contestable in law.
I have vanishing confidence in the current crop of Kalamunda councillors (with the exception of deputy Mayor Kathy Ritchie) to act in the interests of the majority of ratepayers and residents.
Do they understand that the city’s statutory role is that of trustee and steward of our public reserve land?
I am at a loss to understand how any self-respecting councillor thinks that they are serving the community by selling commercial access to public recreation land for a period of up to five months.
It creates a monstrous precedent and should be rejected.
V Laurie
Gooseberry Hill
--------------------------------------------------------------------Dear Echo News,
Premier Roger Cook and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti were rightfully proud in their new Midland station opening remarks.
It is an impressive building and adds significantly to several others now evident to Midland’s skyline as a critical community centre.
But one must ponder, yet again – why is Midland the last of Metronet’s projects and how does is stand up to closer examination.
Recently Armadale, the home territory of the Transport Minister, gained a new station with a raised line, garden areas and removal of several level crossings plus a network extension to Byford.
Again, worthy results and wonderful outcomes for both Armadale and Byford.
Well done minister and government on the finalisation of the Metronet Projects.
But, one must ask – what happened to the Metronet promise of a Bellevue Station?
Back to Midland and some broader observations. How is the glaring omission of an all-weather pedestrian way between the multi storey parking facility and the station get overlooked?
Are we not expected with current building standards to cater for aged commuters and adverse weather conditions?
Is a moving platform, à la an airport variation, too much for Midland?
Did the official party note the freight trains passing through?
One, an eastern state freight train, with planned extensions in the length thereof, the time taken passing through level crossings when that can be readily overcome with the freight line route realignment avoiding Midland town and the disruption now caused to vehicle traffic.
Apart from a verbal response from the Transport Minister to a 2024 city request for an overall review of the road network and rail network within Midland town being a “No”, without explanation or written response, followed by an attempt by council staff to delete the issue from council’s list of priority projects last year.
One can forecast the minister’s reply, if it ever arrives – the cost of a deviation is too expensive.
Well that simply reveals a lack of understanding of the extent of eastern states rail network expenditure on both passenger and freight lines, where country towns obtain extensive relief.
Can I be bold enough to suggest that Midland deserves a better outcome from the City of Swan, the state government and the federal government – it may have been historically a Labor seat, but is that a fair and just reason for past failings when stronger representation is being called for?
G Troy
The Vines
--------------------------------------------------------------------Dear Echo News,
The Town of Bassendean has called a special meeting to consider selling the Wind in the Willows childcare service and property.
What concerns many residents is not simply the future of the service, but the process used to reach this point.
Rather than undertaking genuine community consultation, the town has relied on the statutory minimum of 14 days’ public notice to dispose of the property.
Whether or not people believe a local government should operate a childcare service is beside the point.
A long-standing community asset is proposed to be sold after a buyer has already been identified and a price agreed.
Decisions of this scale should not rely on the bare minimum process.
The community deserves the opportunity to be properly informed, consulted, and heard before assets built over generations are sold.
Rudyard
Local parent
