Tree policy revoked
Dear Echo News,   

The City of Kalamunda revoked its tree retention policy, after just 12 months of operation.

When it was revoked it was on the basis that swift action would be taken, to ensure alternate measures were put in place to protect our remaining significant trees.

Nearly 12 months on and our dwindling canopy remains without specific policy or protection.

It appears the impact is evident, with many blocks within proximity to my house being significantly or completely cleared in recent months.

Another recent example is the proposed McDonald’s and carwash development on Heath Road.

Two marri trees are graciously being spared by the development plans, but it appears two other trees noted as “significant” by the arborist report, along with a well-established eucalyptus will be removed.

A number of councils across Perth have now successfully adopted tree retention policies and I think it’s a poor reflection on our council that we currently have no such policy applicable.

It would be appreciated by myself and many other members of the community if the promised prompt action to adopt a replacement tree protection policy be progressed through council with the utmost priority.

H Lill
Kalamunda

Midland Station is hopeless
Dear Echo News, 

Despite a blowout in the budget from $160 million to $300m, the new Midland station is hopeless for humans and not much better for cars.

Pedestrians are forced to walk the full length of the station instead of being able to tag on or off as they leave.
Pity the poor disabled or walking challenged oldies.

The cars exiting the car park can’t turn right in to Great Eastern Highway forcing us into a dangerous U turn or turning left and coming back to Lloyd Street.

They have completely ignored the rising emissions and have failed to provide EV charging and to make matters worse have cut down the only big trees providing shade.

Questions need to be asked.

Will there be pedestrian access to the platform?

Will EV charging be provided?

Will they replace the shade trees given Perth has the lowest tree coverage of all our cities?

Will we be able to turn right in to Great Eastern Highway?

Will there be separated lanes for personal EV, bikes and scooters to safely get to and from the station?

Hope you can get the answers I have been unable to get from Transport WA.

C Hughes
Midland

Pollies don’t get the public
Dear Echo News,

Recent articles suggesting “Albanese is quietly heading for defeat” at the forthcoming election may be true.
But so is Dutton.

Neither ‘gets’ the Australian public, although Peter Dutton better ‘gets’ his right wing mob than Albo ‘gets’ his left wing mob – but neither represent anything of substance, nor even demonstrate core values.

Both waiver depending on which way the wind is blowing and committed Independents like David Pocock are rising to take their place.

The Greens would do better if they weren’t so consensus-obsessed and would put all their machinery behind getting a few electable people into key seats.

But they’ll never let go of their kumbaya ways, despite having the clearest ideology and perhaps the most sensible aim of preserving the planet (and us) rather than thinking only of economics.

As the world teeters on the brink of mediocrity-bordering delusional belief in ‘strong men’ who are actually weak-as, it’s not looking good for humanity, let alone either Labor or the Coalition.

A hung parliament and a Labor-Greens or Labor-Independents bloc looks to be the most likely (and perhaps best) outcome.

P Carman
Hovea

Telecom problems in the hills
Dear Echo News,

It’s worth Echo readers knowing why some of us join political parties, because there’s a lot of misinformation and cynicism out there.

I joined Labor to improve things for people, because you can’t get things done easily on your own.

Hills people are frustrated with the telecom providers because they don’t deliver what we’re paying for.

We talked about this at a branch meeting in Kalamunda at the Zig Zag Cultural Centre and decided to write to the Albanese government’s Communication Minister Michelle Rowland, urging her to use her power to better enforce customer service.

She wrote back with a very helpful reply promising improvements.

A week or so ago, Minister Rowland announced that the watchdog ACMA will get new powers to bail up failing telecoms providers, including faster enforcement, huge fines (up to $10m per breach) and so better service for all of us.

Even the telcos’ peak body welcomed this speedy, hard-line action on behalf of us, the bill-paying punters.

This is why people band together in political parties: to make things better.

N Dickinson
Rivervale