Let the scouts remain

Dear Echo News,

In 1904 a one-room school opened in the bush at Carmel.

It closed in 1990, and since 1992 the local scouts have kept it alive.

Last week I stood in that schoolyard along with about 100 other community members.

Scouts in uniform, parents, grandparents who were once scouts there themselves, and former students of the old school.

A young leader told us he grew up on that site and does not want to leave.

Much of its upkeep over the years has been done by the scouts themselves, quietly and for nothing.

The City of Kalamunda wants to test the market to use this unsewered site in a water catchment reservation area for a camping and caravan park.

It has spent $81,259 of ratepayers’ money on consultants to explore the idea.

A resident told the meeting the city spent about $1000 maintaining the site in the 2024/25 financial year.

The Mayor was present and told us the city simply cannot afford to keep maintaining parks and reserves.

The city’s own figures tell a different story.

Its 2026/27 budget expects about $61 million in cash and nearly $59m in reserves, including a $31.5m strategic reserve it is not spending. It expects to earn $4.6m in interest this year.

Its own maintenance reserve, $3.6m two years ago, is now down to $159,155, drawn down in part to fund land development.

Its council strategic retreat papers (30 May 2026)  admit it does very little maintenance of natural areas, and its parks asset plan does not even include bushland in its costings.

Its own buildings plan estimates that getting rid of four rundown buildings would save just $8043 a year.

The scouts have offered to pay rent and to help care for the place.

Where else can a young person learn bushcraft, teamwork and leadership inside a heritage listed schoolhouse that has stood for more than 120 years?

You cannot put a price on that. The city is about to try.

Councillors, before you put our heritage out to tender, sit down with the scouts.

B Dornan

Wattle Grove

More on

Bassendean

groundwater

Dear Echo News,,

Further to my letter Bassendean groundwater concerns I wish to add a couple of extra noteworthy concerns.

As the letter states the groundwater is contaminated with copious amounts of pollutants which drain into the Swan River which is a fact known by many government departments, local member, federal member, local council, conservation groups, and environmental advocates.

There is a picture sign-noticeboard erected where the drain enters the river adjacent to hundreds of dead trees which states “the drain carries polluted water from industrial premises to the north” which is where the contaminated waste containment cell is in Tonkin Park industrial area.

The question has to be asked, why are government and agencies turning a blind eye to this hugely contaminated mound and not seeking its removal as requested by community and council?

G Coleman

Bassendean

Baffled by Kalamunda tree cull

Dear Echo News,

Thanks to Hannah Lill for drawing attention to the poor decision made by Kalamunda councillors.

It baffles me that the councillors voting to remove the tree seem to have little respect for the views of ratepayers who live in the hills because of the treed environment.

In another article, the admirable Simon Cheriyman has been building nesting boxes for black cockatoos which is resulting in increased numbers in the Perth Hills.

He makes the point that to develop hollows for nesting, trees need to be at least 200 years old.

So, the saplings replacing the tree removal approved by Kalamunda council will definitely not be forming hollows in our lifetime.

Maybe a little more consideration and forward thinking is needed by the council.

R Le Serve

Gooseberry Hill

Milner Rd closure concerns

Dear Echo News,

I am writing regarding the City of Kalamunda closing Milner Road.

They have just implemented a four week trial of Milner Road closure at Stewart Road, if they do not get enough complaints they will close it for one to two years looking at a permanent closure.

This was implemented without any consultation from residents.

Particularly affected are those on the Forrestfield side of Maida Vale Road which means we are cut off from the greater part of High Wycombe and any services including Edney Primary school with the only access is to go through the train station road.

The city has put up a Feedback Form on their website and my concern is that the only way any residents know about the form is if they are on  Facebook.

Many residents who use this road may want to use a feedback form but have no way of knowing it exists if they are not on Facebook

I would like people to know that they can also access the form.

E Hort

High Wycombe

Action call against poverty

Dear Echo News,

It is estimated that there are more than 3.7 million people across Australia living in poverty.   

In Australia, one in seven people and one in six children struggle to survive in poverty.

We’re a wealthy country and yet many Australians are struggling to put food on the table, pay their bills, keep a roof over their heads and provide the material basics for children.

This Anti-Poverty Week (October 11-17), Mission Australia is calling on governments to do more to tackle poverty. As part of this, we’re joining other non-profit organisations to call for an official, national measure of poverty in Australia with targeted responses.

With an official measure, we could truly understand the extent of poverty in Australia and implement policy solutions to create meaningful change.

Mission Australia’s frontline staff see the impacts of poverty every day on the people we serve. Rising rents, stagnant wages and the ever-increasing cost of living are pushing more people into poverty, housing instability and homelessness.  Children are bearing the consequences of inadequate policy responses.

Our governments have the power to make an immediate impact and ensure people can afford the essentials. They can raise the rate of income support payments to at least $82 a day, continue to build more social and affordable homes and invest in early intervention services to prevent people from reaching crisis in the first place.

We know what works to reduce poverty, now we need action so that everyone can have a safe, secure home and live with dignity.

Elise Jorgensen

State Director
Mission Australia