Jorgensen Park use opposed
Dear Echo News,
The Special Electors Meeting on Jorgensen Park sent a message that could not have been clearer.
The chamber was overflowing. The community turned out in remarkable numbers, informed, respectful and united.
Every motion opposing the proposed commercial lease passed unanimously or close to it.
That is not a divided community. That is a clear mandate.
Yet the deeper concern raised on the night was this: has the City of Kalamunda lost its way?
This is not just about one park. It is about a pattern of decisions that appear to prioritise commercial interests over community values, transparency and environmental protection.
Jorgensen Park is Crown land - a shared public asset - yet it is being considered for exclusive commercial use without a site-specific ecological assessment, despite known environmental values.
And importantly, council is not bound to proceed.
Ministerial approval, if granted, allows a lease - it does not require one.
The decision remains with council.
The community has spoken clearly, lawfully and in good faith.
Council now needs to do the same.
C Dornan
Wattle Grove
--------------------------------------------------------------------Park event against core values
Dear Echo News,
The City of Kalamunda has received a proposal for a commercial night time event at Jorgensen Park to run for up to five months, from April through August.
Although a two-week public submission period was held, the city was unable to provide details about the nature or scale of the event due to a non-disclosure agreement.
The Nature Reserves Preservation Group (NRPG) considers this lack of transparency is inconsistent with the city’s stated core values.
Based on available information on previous events by proponent Kzemos, it may resemble previous Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience events, which involve extensive coloured flashing lighting, amplified sound, smoke effects, diesel generators and large visitor numbers.
The proposed timing coincides with the breeding season of many native birds and mammals, including protected species such as black cockatoos and phascogales.
A further impact is the greatly increased risk for the spread of dieback.
NRPG supports environmentally sensitive community events; however, the use of a high biodiversity area such as Jorgensen Park for an intensive, commercial night time attraction is inappropriate and poses unacceptable risks to wildlife and ecological values.
S Gates
Secretary NRPG
--------------------------------------------------------------------Macri’s Fruit Shed supported
Dear Echo News,
It is time governments and councils accepted the fact that they are there to serve the people - and what the people want – not some personal motive.
Places like Macri’s Fruit Shed have been around for so long they are considered fixtures with the locals and travelling tourists.
They are common on country roads throughout Australia, and are a pleasure to just call in to buy a little fruit etc, and quietly relax for a bit while tiredness dissipates.
Macri’s is not some new roadside store, but one that has been around for about 30 years.
If it was not legal, then why were they not told that many years ago?
More likely because some idiotic bureaucrats, with inflated egos, want to stamp their current ideas on the public.
Are they pandering to the superstores?
What are they going to do next? Close down all the fruit stores along West Swan Road and the Great Northern Highway?
At least Stephen Cain seems to be showing a bit of sense!
These small roadside stores are a relaxing place to call into where we can buy fresh fruit and vegetables…even, perhaps, an ice cream.
Just because they are selling some other goods that people want, does not make it any less appealing, and beneficial, to the public.
Just the opposite. It also boosts their income, helping to keep the orchards going when times are tough… and they often are with the ever-changing climate.
We don’t want them closed down; we want them, and more like them, to open, giving us more of the pleasures I grew up with.
They are not causing any problems for roads or major businesses; just giving pleasure to locals and travellers.
S Oliver
Ellenbrook
--------------------------------------------------------------------DAP is failing our democracy
Dear Echo News,
One of the cornerstones of democracy is the accountably of policy makers through standing before the electorate.
The Development Assessment Panel (DAP), as mentioned last week by C Hughes of Woodbridge, is a perfect example of a government agency that fails miserably to meet this basic democratic standard.
DAP panels consist of five members, two of which are councillors of the LGA where the development proposal resides.
These representatives are not bound by any actions or recommendations made by the local council; they are free to vote the minority position even if the council as a whole has voted in the opposite.
Additionally, these representatives do not have to come from the ward where the project is located.
If these appointees do not stand in the ward where the development takes place, then effectively those electors have no means to show elected officials the door when they feel that they are not representing them (kick the bums out in direct parlance).
Hence, DAP officials are unaccountable by democratic processes.
Governments or agencies that are unaccountable are rife for undoing outside influence and corruption and effectively reduce the electorate to the status of serfs.
The WA development process needs to open up to a more democratic one where consideration and due diligence is given to the community.
Those who have invested their life’s savings and efforts in a community should help to decide its direction, rather than the next billionaire with an out-of-step proposal that irreversibly changes that community for the worse, forever!
Dr R Ilchik
South Guildford
