Dear Echo News,
I agree that the cost for security for the old Swan Districts Hospital of $4.5 million even if it is over many years needs to be addressed.
The Liberal MLC Spagnolo is correct in highlighting this issue.
Personally, I would like to see most of these buildings stay. My reasoning is when I first came to Midland there was an Indigenous night shelter next to the hospital that has now gone. It was a very good service and should have remained.
Night after night when I am travelling through the dark streets of Midland I am seeing homeless people in shop doorways on street verandahs in the inner city not necessarily by choice given high rents and lack of housing.
I usually stop and speak to them if they are awake when I ride past on my bike. Some nights I will take a flask of a hot drink especially on freezing nights.
I can’t see why there can’t be an alcohol and drug service, counselling service and homeless support service on the grounds of the old hospital.
The wards could be used as a hostel with employment of day and night staff as well as a couple of security on the premises.
There could be a small 20-seater bus to transport there and back from Midland central township with a route that would encompass the Midland train station, Centrepoint and other places like outside near City of Swan office.
As homelessness affects people of all races in Midland the service does not have to be Indigenous only.
I don’t believe the buildings need to be demolished as Mr Mike Matich suggests as shelter is needed now as it has been a hard winter and therefore for the grace of God it could be anyone that ends up lost and alone on the streets.
There are some very supportive services in Midland but there is need of a shelter for male and female adults with services close to assisting with what these people may need.
A Brown
Midland
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Dear Echo News,
I was very shocked to find out about these pedestrian deaths from a local friend this morning.
Two pedestrian fatalities in a shopping centre carpark are unusual and call for further review.
I am a Lesmurdie resident and have lived with my family in the area since 2003.
I am 72 and keep a keen eye on our locality for any improvements I think will enhance the amenity of the area for all parties.
I have increasingly become concerned about the lack of pedestrian friendly infrastructure in the Kalamunda CBD ,especially the following three.
The underground carpark is not well lit and now increasingly busy due to Kalamunda Central having leased off a portion to a carwash business creating much more movement and business right at the entrance/exit of the undercover carpark.
There originally was a footpath for pedestrians alongside Coffee Club from the mall entrance down to the carpark roadway and for access to the footpath in front of the hotel.
The original designers obviously thought this was necessary to enable pedestrian movement to and from parked cars and for access to the front of the hotel and the footpath along Railway Road.
This footpath was surprisingly removed a few years ago by Central which redevelopment surely City of Kalamunda must have had to approve?
This redevelopment removed a pedestrian walkway for all customers with the sole intention of enabling creation of an alfresco area for the Coffee Club tenancy to the detriment of customers/pedestrians.
Now one is forced to walk on the carpark access roadway to get from the Central mall to the hotel, or past the hotel to continue on the footpath along past the Railway Road shops to Haynes Street.
Both of these additional leasing actions by Central have impeded pedestrian/customer access and movement.
Like the confusing pedestrian unfriendly walkways on Meads Street, Railway Road and Haynes Street.
These are trouble waiting to happen as they give vehicles right of way over pedestrians while looking very much like a pedestrian walkway.
A vehicle driver may or may not give you access at their whim and the signage to pedestrians says give way to vehicles.
I have never seen such a design anywhere in Australia.
The walkway across the entrance to the undercover carpark is not clearly marked and further there is only a very narrow pedestrian unfriendly footpath adjacent to 777 Pharmacy, alongside the main access road from Haynes Street forcing pedestrians at times onto the road to walk to Haynes Street.
Given the ageing demographic in our area I think the City of Kalamunda and Kalamunda Central need to urgently review the precinct and in particular the above problem areas.
B Lovel
Lesmurdie
