Perth is growing fast, threatening what we value most. Just in case we needed reminding, today’s West has three headlines about this:
A further recent headline points out that by continuing to just spread outwards we are building a dysfunctional city. Environmental damage, increased use of cars and longer distances for provision of water, power and sewerage make the outlook for Perth quite dismal.
Essentially, when we say at public meetings that we want the City to remain as it is, we do nothing and thus contribute to destroying what we love. South Perth's recent City Visioning exercise helped us describe the features that we do want in our future. The challenge now is to use this Vision to plan for a City that keeps these attributes while accommodating rapid growth.
We have a number of community forums in the near future. My hope is that we can use these to work towards what we do want in our future, not just to protest against change.
4 comments:
Environmental damage of current urban development form is of concern but in our rush to change this traditional approach to development we need to ensure we do not further damage existing urban environments. One very real example of this is the proposed "dogbone" bus terminus proposed for the immediate river foreshore at Canning Highway (not withstanding that a portion of ths is classified as freeway reserve but is land "leftover" from this road construction and has been open river foreshore land since the freeway has been in existence! This proposal to be elevated to the level equal with Canning Bridge and could have upto eight buses idling at any one time. The environmental consequences of this development are enormous to the riverine environs. Why would we persist with such old technology? And why would we damage the riverine environment further? Why are we spending millions of dollars to build bus related technologies when new forms of transport (such as light rail) and improvements to existing traffic systems would dramatically change situations! At Canning Bridge we have already built one bus ramp costing many millions of dollars, then we re-aligned it for many millions of dollars more and now future "visions" propose to demolish it! Lets plan for the future and stop building stop gap measures! The fact that the Canning interchange has far outweighed the vision for the bus and train interchange is evidence that we have in the past not "got it right" - lets make sure we do this - this time!
How about some relief for 50cc scooter riders . ... at the moment the only way into the city is via the Causeway, even if you live in Mends street South Perth\ or as we do in Mt Henry Estate.
We seem to have no rights!
We're NOT:
We're not seen as a pushbike
We're not seen as a motorbike
We're not even seen as a regular scooter
We're not permitted to ride on the freeways
We're not permitted to on footpaths
We're not permitted to ride on cycle ways
We DO:
We save fuel
We save congestion on the roads
We save parking chaos
We save the environment
We give people mobility where there is no public transport
We're cheap to run
We're cheap to own
Help.
Lou Schillaci
I am very concerned about this issue of unsustainable population growth where our Government is encouraging rapid growth without making provision for the needed infrastructure and utilities. This has big implications for local government and rate payers, as well as the future quality of life of all residents. Our disadvantaged community members will become even more disadvantaged by this rapid, uncontrolled growth.
I have attached an article (http://issues.control.com.au/Issues2010/91Howat.pdf) we recently wrote about this issue of unsustainable population growth for your information. See the Heading ‘Traffic congestion.’
Professor Peter Howat MSc Phd FPHAA, FAAHB
Director, Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control
Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University
GPO Box U1987, Perth, W Australia 6845
Co-Director, WA Centre for Health Promotion Research, School of Public Health
Co-Director, WA Centre for Public Health
There is stupid suggestion that Jackson Ave be opened near the Seniors Village / Como High School to allow buses through. Possibly the first step to allow through traffic. This would destroy the 'Karawara concept' and create a major traffic safety and noise problem. As residents we will absolutely oppose such as stupid idea and campaign vigorously against any Councillor who supports it.
Post a Comment