National Homeless Week
Dear Echo News,

August 5 – 11 is National Homelessness Week where the homelessness crisis that affects our country gets put under the spotlight, and where we get to advocate for those who are the most vulnerable in our community.

As the largest provider of homelessness services in Australia, The Salvation Army wants others to be aware of the key issues facing those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

We are seeing across the country that social housing waiting lists are growing, the demand for homeless services is skyrocketing and rental prices are increasing by 10 per cent every year.

There are also increasing levels of mortgage stress and ‘tent cities’ popping up around the country while there is very cold winter weather.

The Salvation Army is trying to meet the needs of thousands of people experiencing homelessness each month, made more difficult due to a winter of unaffordable housing and a cost-of-living crisis.

We can’t do this alone. Our hope during Homelessness Week this year is to inform and educate the public about the issues surrounding homelessness and to advocate for the most vulnerable in our community as we lobby for more accommodation and support services.

As a major provider of accommodation and financial assistance in Australia, we put clients at the centre of our work.

The Salvation Army’s desire is to treat everyone who reaches out to our services with dignity, compassion, and respect.

We are passionate about seeing transformation in people’s lives. It is our privilege to meet people where they are at, whether that is rough sleeping, couch surfing, emergency accommodation or in other circumstances, and we will continue to do all we can to support people in their journey.

Dr J Donoghue
Salvation Army
Homelessness general manager

Closure of Railway Rd/Elizabeth St
Dear Echo News,

In response to R Wood and C Coulthard letters regarding the proposed closure of the top of Railway Road and Elizabeth Street.

Both of who will not be directly impacted if this closure occurs.

As a resident who will be affected,  I’d like to point out that closure of this section of Elizabeth Street will impact ambulances going to/from the hospital, impact ambulances getting quick and easy access from the ambulance station to Kalamunda Road, force local traffic to either travel through the centre of Kalamunda (causing more congestion in peak periods); or to travel to Headingly Road, which itself crossing Railway Road is a blind spot.

Unless traffic slows down on Railway Road approaching Kalamunda (don’t hold your breath on that one), the best and safest option for all Kalamunda residents and ratepayers is a roundabout.

Why?  Because the City of Kalamunda has received federal and state grant funds to build a roundabout.

Any other option (which there are several other than closure of the road) – including closure of the road, ratepayers will pay for.

Roundabouts work effectively and efficiently ensuring traffic flows in all directions with limited issues.

One thing I do agree with the previous two correspondents is that the city should get on with what they have been given funds for – and build the roundabout soonest for the safety and benefit of all residents.

G England
Kalamunda

Roundabout opinion
Dear Echo News,

Regarding  a second roundabout to the hospital main access entry road next to the ambulance precinct.

Driving past there as I have for over 50 years as a local, I would suggest a pathway opening on the left hand side,  looking down that Elizabeth Street corner for a bike path and pedestrians and postie vehicle.

I am sure the city town planners don’t always see everything in the town and most of them never grew up in Kalamunda.

But another annoyance is the lack of a defined taxi rank in the town which used to be under the old marri tree opposite the R&I  bank in Barber Street near the Post Office.

In fact, a focus on a little paved level square there might be interesting as a sunny winter forecourt to that popular cafe bread shop 37 .

A couple of car parking spaces removed there would pave the way for three or four tables and seating  too.

R Wood
Lesmurdie

Kalamunda rate rise
Dear Echo News,

I write regarding a recent article in Echo  News about the five per cent rate rise in the City of Kalamunda.

Kalamunda council, by introducing FOGO bins and giving away native plants, seem to be concerned about the environment.

However, in the article it appears that at least one of the councillors, although admitting that climate change was a serious issue, appeared to believe that tackling this problem was a job for others and not the local council.

I disagree with him. If every individual did their best to live with the environment in mind, we would be a long way to tackling climate change.

Australia, being one of the highest polluters per capita, should be doing its best to reverse that. And our leaders, in particular our councillors, should be leading by example instead of abrogating responsibility to others.

My other concern, also relating to the environment, is the felling of mature trees in Kalamunda. We are fortunate to live in an area close to beautiful bushland, but I have recently seen a number of mature trees felled locally.

It is great that some communities like Caversham are planting saplings but these will take generations to mature by which time it may be too late.

There should be tree preservation orders on our mature trees in the city.

J Pilgrim
Kalamunda