Roundabout again we go
Dear Echo News,

Like all emergency services and transport drivers including taxi drivers their driving difficulties often can be negotiating turning circles and traffic islands at speed.

In fact, what I would suggest to the federal Labor party funding organisers mentioned by Mr England’s letter last week is use the allocated budget monies on a diamond saw and trim some of the fat off some of these concrete median strips.

I am sure it would save a hundred thousand or so off replacement mag wheels and tyres at the local garage, but seriously the main reason why there are accidents at the top of Elizabeth Street is probably hand brake starts by inexperienced drivers due to the steep topography as they stall entering Railway Road too slowly.

Sorry Mr England it’s more a question of refocusing on re-engineering steep topography.

Stirk Street T junction is a safer bypass road for the ambulance or shift the roundabout down to the top of Headingley Road in 10 years or so, but seriously get that diamond saw and re-shape some traffic islands and insert more bus stop points that are badly placed and designed.

Better to spend the Feds money on improving downtown sidewalks in Haynes Street too.

Yep, a bit of lawn might be better under that old marri gum tree to aerate the root system next to that taxi rank in Barber Street near where the doggies all meet on Saturday morning in their smart doggie jackets.

Oh, and while the town council is on traffic management what about some federal funding on a heated bus terminal one day.

Now that would get the people to use public transport as old Kalamundaites were used to, so to get to the big bad city and encourage the school kids to walk to school rather than pick up, as their mums did, for the pampered mobile phone generation with the three-car mansions.

Something for the ‘environmentalists’ to think about?

If the existing Kalamunda bus terminal is updated it could have a solar powered roof covering that may charge up that warm waiting room space at its top end, or a couple of EV charging points carpark that the City of Kalamunda council is thinking of buying.

Smaller buses may be a better idea but that’s a state government – federal matter not a local government matter.

The city council owns the land.

RJ Wood
Kalamunda

Action needed for the homeless
Dear Echo News,

August 5-11 is Homelessness Week, a time to make louder our plea to our leaders to join us in taking urgent action to end homelessness.

The theme, ‘Homelessness Action Now’ is a call to action - every Australian deserves a safe, secure home.

It is outrageous that, as wealthy as Australia is, we collectively allow the glaring inequalities in housing access to continue.

Mission Australia’s new youth homelessness report revealed nearly one in 10 Youth Survey 2023 participants experienced homelessness in the previous year.

More than 220,000 households are waiting for social housing and some will never get access to a stable home.

The ripple effects of homelessness are profound, especially for children and young people – having a devastating impact on their lives in adulthood.

Homelessness is usually a result of poverty, housing unaffordability and inadequate support systems.

This is why Mission Australia advocates for systemic reforms aimed at tackling the root causes of homelessness.

A $500 million homelessness prevention transformation fund will help people avoid homelessness in the first place.

Substantial increases to income support and rental assistance are needed so people can afford to stay safely housed and afford life’s essentials.

It’s time for action, to create a future where homelessness is a thing of the past in Australia.

S Budalich
Mission Australia state director

Thanks for Bush Forever story
Dear Echo News,

Congratulations on your article Concern Bush Forever link to Whiteman Park cut off (Echo News, August 2).

Inclusion of the urban development photo at the top of the article is very eye-catching and appropriate to the article.

The Urban Bushland Council (UBC) advocates for the protection of Bush Forever sites and linkages between them - and also linkages between other natural and built areas such as bushland that is not Bush Forever, parks, treed areas, wetlands, creeks.

The UBC has around 100 ‘Friends of’ member groups as well as around 100 individual supporters.

We also have an excellent webpage - www.bushlandperth.org.au

M Owen
Urban Bushland Council