LPP 33 revoked
Dear Echo News,
G. England (Echo News, March 22) expressed concern over the rescinding of tree retention (LPP 33) and requests the city’s reasons.
Together with many residents, I share the writer’s concerns.
In the same edition of Echo News, is the City of Kalamunda notice of revocation, from the acting chief executive officer, encouraging residents to discuss their relevant circumstances.
Assuming the City of Kalamunda is bound by the planning and development (local planning schemes) regulations 2015, I fail to see that council’s ‘revocation’ adhered to the regulations at the February 27 council meeting.
A revocation notice has only now appeared in Echo News, citing the date of revocation as March 1.
No official notice of revocation appeared prior to the February 27 meeting, other than the agenda item for that meeting.
Presumably the city is happy to have a notice of revocation published after, rather than prior to the event.
A far more enlightened LGA chose to (1) prepare a notice of revocation, (2) carry out community consultation on the proposal, (3) only then, publish the notice of revocation, if no submissions were received during the community consultation period.
I think Kalamunda’s loose and selective interpretation of the regulations have deprived residents of an opportunity to comment fully on a vital, if contentious initiative.
Deputations at a council meeting are no substitute for genuine community consultation.
As a long-term resident of the city, I am dismayed at the retrograde actions of the council.
A Fowler
Kalamunda

Footy fumble
Dear Echo News,
As an Eagles member who has used the free bus service from Kalamunda to Optus, I can sympathise for Steve Barrett’s dilemma regarding the re-routing of the 655 stadium bus.
However, I think a very simple solution is this: the buses leave Kalamunda on a very regular basis. Surely every alternate bus could take the old route along Hale Road.
I would bet my membership that there would not be one person who would complain if that way took an extra seven whole minutes to get to the stadium. Simples!
I Sanderson
Kalamunda

FOGO frustration
Dear Echo News,
Maybe, I missed it where rate payers are given the option to have one these ‘new’ bins for food scraps and garden organics.
Mundaring being a large shire encompassing rural and semi-rural properties.
People have poultry and recycle food and organic garden waste with them or through composting.
How much is all this going to cost with new bins, more trucks, extra staff as if rates aren’t high enough already?
Another thing they talk about: greenhouse gases and climate change. How much gas was produced manufacturing these bins and will be produced by the vehicles and equipment required to service the operation?
M Warnock
Stoneville

Follow-up on FOGO
Dear Echo News,
The article EMRC and Mundaring FOGO plan (Echo News, April 5) got me wondering just what is happening with the similar plan that was mooted by the Kalamunda City Council seemingly years ago?
C Coulthard
Gooseberry Hill

Tree retention tension
Dear Echo News,
Kalamunda council’s sudden decision to scrap the city’s tree retention policy last month has left a lingering sense of deep disquiet, both in the actual outcome and in the conduct of council.
The policy had been in place for only 14 months, after three years of close work between council staff and community representatives on KESAC (Kalamunda Environment and Sustainability Advisory Committee), which I chaired.
In essence, the policy sensibly required that felled mature trees be replaced by planting new ones.
But it also listed ample instances in which replacement was not required, in the interest of fairness and based on advice from City staff.
Where any problems existed in the policy’s execution – and there were very few objections during the 14 months - adjustments could have been made at operational level.
Instead, a group of councillors set out to scrap the policy. Some councillors not within that separate group were genuinely shocked by the sudden tactic, which gave the public just three working days’ notice of the intention to scrap it.
The majority of residents who spoke on the night were strongly in favour of retaining the City’s tree retention policy.
This was ignored in a council vote that favoured a tiny minority of speakers against the policy, clearly indicating that the majority of councillors had come to the meeting with their views predetermined.
If the reconfigured Kalamunda council decides to conduct matters in this way, it should not be surprised if it suffers further damage to its reputation.
It has broken a fragile relationship of trust with the community.
V Laurie
Gooseberry Hill