Midland station access

Dear Echo News,

I wrote to the letters to the Editor in August regarding the Midland station and disability access.

Since then, I have received a response from the office of Rita Saffioti who has told me that all new stations will comply with the DDA 1992 and states that improvements are underway at Midland, but doesn’t give any date on when this will be achieved.

Maybe the new station will comply, but at the moment I believe the old station does not.

The pathway has several places where the concrete is chipped away and there are cracks.

The nonslip surface is nearly worn away on the ramp and the tape that was over the joins has already worn away.

The seat, that is a mandatory requirement, is open to the elements so, not a good place to rest.
Is the present state of affairs at the station, compliant with the disability act?

If not, the law is being broken.

The Disability Discrimination Act (1992) to which is referred to by her, says that people with a disability should not be treated unfairly, with no restriction to their access to services such as transport and travel, and reasonable adjustments are required to be made to promote equal opportunity.

How has this been done at Midland Station?

This state of affairs should not be allowed to continue.

Is anything going to be done or are we going to have to wait until the new station is completed?

G Eatterall
Chidlow

Residential trees are valuable

Dear Echo News,
The matter of bringing in tree protection in one form or another is a divisive and complicated issue and I totally appreciate it’s a challenge to strike the right balance.

However, I am particularly concerned with the viewpoint that some in the community are asserting, that landowners should have full discretion over their block.

I feel the purpose of many local planning policies is to guide landowners on acceptable conduct of their land (such as operation of businesses, building approvals etc) – and I see the amenity and environmental value that mature trees provide create a similar impact well beyond the bounds of individual landowners property.

I feel solutions are possible, to create a more balanced and effective policy for the City of Kalamunda, with sensible tailored exemptions.

Our mature trees on residential land deserve some protection as well!

H Lill
Kalamunda

Wagyl is angry

Dear Echo News,

I write in response to your recent article Central Wheatbelt MLA demands action on the long-awaited Talbot phone tower it is worth reminding the community strong objections were lodged on several grounds.

These include the tower site would interfere with the Wagyl’s role to supply water to the Boyanning Creek/Avon Catchment, so proceeding would anger the Wagyl. (Shire of York Council Meeting Minutes 23/04/24).

Due process was set aside in the rush to fast-track approvals.

Council, the Balladong Aboriginal Corporation and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage approved the project, the landowner signed up and construction commenced.

But the Wagyl was not happy.

Construction quickly stopped.

Electric mains power was delayed for 18 months.
The applicant FSG Field Solutions went belly up and there is no sign of the project being reinstated.

It is likely it will take a long time for the financial, regulatory, contractual and compensation mess to be resolved.

There is still time to relocate the tower to a more appropriate site in Talbot West.

D Grimwood
Talbot

Nothing changes at Coles
Dear Echo News,

I’m sorry to disappoint you, R Jones of Lesmurdie but I was particularly disgusted in Coles Supermarket this morning, nothing has changed.

After a long weekend, there were quite a few people shopping this morning and there was one young man, obviously new, serving on one checkout and three people with loaded trolleys waiting.

I felt particularly sorry for a young woman with two toddlers and a young child and a ladened trolly at the back of the queue.

Two women workers looked at the woman a few times and she optimistically said, ‘oh thank goodness, they’ve seen me waiting’.

However, the realisation that Coles attitude had improved was quickly dashed as obviously the workers decided that the woman could wait like everyone else.

Eventually the young mother went through the self-serve with no help from the worker in that section.
It was pitiful to watch, trying to put through her groceries and deal with three young children.

Coles Kalamunda, you need to improve and realize that your customers are tired of your poor service.

R Le Serve
Gooseberry Hill