Thursday 1 April 2010

Comment on Canning Bridge Submissions

This week the submissions on the Vision for Canning Bridge closed. Many in the community have made their feelings known. Some that I have heard or read involve objections to particular components, suggestions for alternatives, critiques of the philosophy of TODs, calls for more study, calls for a halt to development, calls for more rapid development, attention to sustainability and much other besides.

This week’s newspapers have been full of the latest growth analyses. Two meetings that I have details from involved:

  • figures for new developments such as five new industrial areas and two more ports south from Perth
  • a billion dollars of development expenditure along the south- west corridor, every year for twenty years
  • expansion of Karratha to one hundred thousand people
  • expansion to fifty thousand of many other towns, such as Newman

Many people are very concerned about how we maintain values related to environmental diversity, energy use, water and food supply, community connectedness and more.

In the midst of all this we see Dr Janet Woollard’s public submission. This could be summarised as follows:

  • One should not have a Vision for the future until all past thinking, developed on the basis of past reality, has been fully implemented and is functioning as planned.

Unfortunately this misses the point that times have changed, that we have a new reality, new risks and new opportunities. It also misses the bit about essential human values and caring for our country.

This does not mean that we have to be pro- development at all costs. It does mean that we should all be engaged in shaping the future while being conscious of our values.

The residents of Como, Applecross and the whole precinct of Canning Bridge are demonstrating that they are very prepared to get involved, to make certain that they contribute to the way that our neighbourhood moves to the future.

Curtin town planning lecturer and local resident, Julie Brunner, has made a very thoughtful and detailed submission which exemplifies this approach. Julie has pulled together the myriad threads that contribute to making a local community plan work for the benefit of people who live here.

Keep up the good work in Como. Have your say by clicking on ‘Comments’ below.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

So where is Julie Brunner's magical and academic submission available for public scrutiny ?

Bill said...

Mr Best
I have just read your comments on Canning Bridge
Do you not understand what the people of the area are saying or are you choosing to ignore it and, if so why?
You have been elected to represent the people of this area and I suggest they, the people who live here have sent you and council a very clear message.
It is undeniable that there is and will continue to be significant opposition to the plan. In fact as more residents become aware of the plan the greater the opposition grows.

We have heritage listings throughout the country to preserve our past, it is perhaps time that our way of life was also “heritage listed” to prevent this type of destruction of what is one of the most desirable lifestyles in the world.

Bill said...

Mr Best
I have just read your comments on Canning Bridge
Do you not understand what the people of the area are saying or are you choosing to ignore it and, if so why?
You have been elected to represent the people of this area and I suggest they, the people who live here have sent you and council a very clear message.
It is undeniable that there is and will continue to be significant opposition to the plan. In fact as more residents become aware of the plan the greater the opposition grows.

We have heritage listings throughout the country to preserve our past, it is perhaps time that our way of life was also “heritage listed” to prevent this type of destruction of what is one of the most desirable lifestyles in the world.

Anonymous said...

Some people are “anti-everything” from trees to childrens' playgrounds to pedestrian crossings etc.

When does one learn that we must “move on with the times” with due consideration to the environment and public opinions of course.

P/S Like the Green MP was saying @ BBQ we must also eventually approve something instead of opposing everything.

I do approve of high density but with effective consultations.

Anonymous said...

Some people are “anti-everything” from trees to childrens' playgrounds to pedestrian crossings etc.

When does one learn that we must “move on with the times” with due consideration to the environment and public opinions of course.

P/S Like the Green MP was saying @ BBQ we must also eventually approve something instead of opposing everything.

I do approve of high density but with effective consultations.

Paul said...

I like the plan. It should add some more interest to our area and takes advantage of the railway transport.