Care for River Wetlands

We’ve seen front- page news recently about mosquito control, dolphin deaths, river health and the future of Perth. There is a link between these matters and I believe that it is important to us and to our children.

Our values are demonstrated in the way that we care for our country, respect future generations and think widely about the implications of matters that concern us today.

The City has extended the footpath along the Canning River, behind Clontarf. This is in the area where people have expressed concern about mosquitoes. As I have lived in hot, humid locations in the Pacific and in Africa, suffered dengue fever and swatted a good few insects, I took a ride to have a look at the area myself.

Rehabilitation of the riverbank, including swan nesting areas, is very impressive. The way that the work is managed shows a wonderful sensitivity to the diversity of our river banks.

This seems to contrast with loud, public calls to kill mosquitoes by fogging. My concern here is that chemical fogging lasts for a few hours at best and can poison the locality, affecting aquatic animals and our unborn and infant children.

I searched for safety details of the components of foggers used in WA and found that the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory at Oxford University states that Piperonyl Butoxide is harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin, is an experimental carcinogen, is not classifiable as a human carcinogen and may cause reproductive defects. They state that it is very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term damage to the environment. Another safety data sheet spoke of human female reproductive system toxicity, possible developmental toxicity, toxicity to blood, kidneys, lungs, liver, skin and central nervous system and general deterioration in health through accumulation in human organs.

Do we really want to cause more river deaths? Do we want our mothers and children absorbing such compounds? This is a plea to residents to think widely about the solutions to what is a very present irritation. Numerous other cities have addressed mosquito issues in other ways, including attention to backyard breeding areas.

Surely we can do better than just spreading poison.

Have your say by clicking on “Comments,” below.

Lighter Footprints

Here’s an idea to reduce the financial impact of going green. Householders by now know many ways to reduce their environmental footprint on the planet- solar photo- voltaics, solar water heaters, micro wind turbines and so on. With three electricity price rises forecast for this year and more to come homeowners can be increasingly confident that the capital outlay will save them money. Here’s a way to reduce the impact of that financial outlay.

The City of South Perth could lend homeowners and businesses the money to install sensible, approved technology. To pay for this the City could set up a fund by accessing loan money at lower rates than individuals can. Owners could repay the loans over a number of years as a charge on their rates bill. The City could provide a list of approved technologies and require that only equipment with Australian Standards approval and licensed installers be used.

To reassure the City’s financial managers, in the event of homeowners getting into financial difficulty, rates debts rank higher than most other obligations.

To implement this proposal the City already has a very competent Sustainability Officer who could research the program and provide advice. We also have a very active community Sustainability Action Group who could develop this idea further.

We know that the long- term effect of good technology can be to reduce household electricity bills to near zero. Now we can do this with no immediate financial outlay while doing the right thing for the planet. Seems like an easy decision to me.

Hot off the Press

Planning for Canning Bridge precinct is moving fast. Today saw the release by Planning WA of a draft vision for the area. We are being asked for our views on the plans.

The precinct is located at a strategic spot where the Perth- Mandurah rail line crosses the Canning Highway. This connects Fremantle with the main roads to the State’s North, and East to the rest of Australia. The location also supports numerous high- frequency bus links and represents a vital entry point to the rapidly- growing Curtin University. Perth’s CBD, Murdoch Uni and the Fiona Stanley and St John of God Hospitals are only one rail stop away.

You can click here to download a PDF version of the draft plan for Applecross, Mt Pleasant, Como and the confluence of the Canning and Swan Rivers or go to the Department’s web site. They also have a link to a draft Land Use plan for the area and other documents.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is 5pm, Friday 19 March 2010. Don’t forget the public forum on Saturday 13 February.

I am certain that there will be spirited debate around the designs. It is so good to see action on this area. Listen, read, have your say and be remembered as being part of planning for the future. Click here to download a submission form. You can attend the public forum or have your say by clicking on ‘comments’ below.