More New Ideas in the City

A recreational club with two thousand members, operating seven days a week, with strong competition and a buzzing social scene? This can be a new South Metro Bridge Centre. An expanding demographic of older players could really appreciate a new facility for this rapidly growing pastime. With goodwill and some imaginative funding this could be easily achieved. The present club is on City land zoned R80, being very valuable and potentially contributing to a new centre.

South Perth Bridge Club is feeling squeezed by new developments near their Como home of thirty years. Melville Club has been given two years to vacate their old building to make way for Riseley precinct developments. There is opportunity to start afresh. With a new site on Manning Road, close to the freeway, Canning Bridge Station and the new light rail service, this could be easily accessible to the whole Perth region. Merging the two local clubs and bringing in new members could easily create an exciting new venue near the Manning Library, on Council land. Regional tournaments could be accessible to all between Mandurah and Joondalup. Can we make this happen?

More events last weekend included a spirited party hosted by Moorditch Keila, with food, music and smiles. Wow, Dena, Garry and friends do wonders in our community.

Speaking of making things happen, the McDougall Farm Community Garden people are a bundle of energy. Another workshop on Sunday brought more people and ideas together. John McBain and friends are about to commence preparing worm farms and compost, ahead of an anticipated Spring 2012 planting.

For younger residents, this weekend the new McDougall Park play area is expected to be open. What a job the City has done here :-) More new ideas in action.

People in this City are moving with energy. Councillor Gleeson speaks of visionary planning and the need to be “not tied to the dinosaur of our old Town Planning Scheme.”  Councillor Reid speaks of keeping the open feel of our neighbourhoods, not closing off our families behind high walls.

Do you have some ideas about the future? Click on Comments below to add your thoughts, or just email me and I’ll publish them here for you.

What About Small Voices?

An affordable housing development in Manning was last night refused by South Perth Councillors. The property at 4 Downey Drive is owned by Homes West and has a dilapidated house on it. In partnership with an architect, Homes West submitted plans to construct a  block of six affordable apartments with a street-facing office. They planned to sell four units on the open market, use the cash for more building, and to sell the other two units on a Shared Equity arrangement to approved buyers. The City’s planning officers recommended the application for approval by Council.

Manning has for many years comprised welfare housing, including houses for returned soldiers from the 1940s. At times as much as 50% of dwellings were social housing. That figure is now down to 17%. In recent years people have been buying land in Manning cheaply and building grand houses on their blocks. Three such new houses can be seen adjacent to 4 Downey Drive, above. The rest of the street remains mostly in its old form.

In September Councillor Sharon Hawkins-Zeeb, who lives next door, raised a petition of more than a hundred local residents to protest about this proposed building next to her property. At the consequent public meeting speaker after speaker rose to express their feelings against the amount of social housing in Manning. As each finished the crowd clapped and cheered. A representative of the Department of Housing pointed out that the development was not for social housing but that the units would be sold. His words appeared to be not understood by members of the crowd, as they continued to demand less Homes West tenants in their suburb.

At last night’s meeting Councillor Hawkins-Zeeb declared a “Proximity Interest” and left the room during debate. There was no debate. When the Mayor introduced the item not one Councillor even twitched to move or second the motion. Not a word was said. The motion therefore lapsed. Councillor Colin Cala then moved that the application be refused. He spoke of the size of the building being out of character with the streetscape, noting that as more good quality homes are being built their amenity should be protected. He said the proposed building would have far-reaching effects on adjoining property. Cr Peter Howat spoke to say that the building would affect the neighbours and was not in keeping with the neighbourhood. Not one person spoke up for affordable housing, for the needs of people who can’t afford big houses, for people such as nurses and police, whom Homes West sees as likely buyers of the proposed units.

The motion to refuse the application was supported by all except Councillors Lawrance and Hasleby. Of course I do respect that many in our City have homes that they worked hard for and can be proud of. I do ask: should not our Council represent all residents, not just the wealthy? What of young people who can’t afford a big house, the elderly with no family living at home, others who just don’t need all those rooms?

Click on Comments, below, to have your say, or just email me, to have your thoughts added to the blog.

Verges, Gardens and Economic Development

Our McDougall Park Community Garden meeting last week was full of energy. We had lots of conversation about why we are going to share a garden space, how, what our shared values are and much more. What wonderful neighbours we have around here. For more information you can click here to go to the Facebook Group. If you click “Add Friend” you can be part of the group too.

Recent Council moves to amalgamate various tiny pieces of land in the parking area behind the Windsor Hotel and to sell the combined block have caused some concerns. Some residents have suggested that they could lose walking access across the car park. Others are concerned about loss of parking spaces and about local street exit at the rear. These are important points. Might it be possible to use “and” instead of “or” in our thinking to achieve the desired development and to maintain these amenities? I’m sure this is what we can expect with good architects, planners and local input? Have your say when you get the chance.

Preston Street too is in the news. Along with ideas for al-fresco dining and street art some have suggested that if we installed more bike lock-up points there would be fewer cars, less congestion and happier shoppers. The street is wonderfully popular; now what if we changed the dominant colour to be less beige?

Back in June, after work by myself, John McBain, Mark Taylor and many others, the Council changed the verge law so that we do not need permission for:

• Natural lawns, reticulation, verges mulched with organic mulch or low-growing Waterwise verge gardens.

This means we can have native plants, mulch and even edible herbs on the verge. Click here for more details.

My last achievement before leaving Council was to have the City commit to composing an economic development plan. Surprisingly, we don’t have one. One of the CEO’s KPIs for the year is to get this moving. There is so much happening and I’m hugely encouraged by the way our community joins in planning for our future. Do you have thoughts on this?

Please pass this on to your family and friends. You can add your thoughts by clicking on Comments below, or email me and I’ll publish for you.

Two and a Half Opportunities to Have Your Say

What’s a democracy? Is it somewhere that you get to have your say about the law? Here are 2.5 chances to do just that, one about now, one about later. Both are to do with our Councils, what they are and how they work.

For the first, WA State Government has a Local Government Amendment Bill currently  progressing through the Lower House; it could reach the upper house next week. It’s all about discipline, payments, investments and underground power. There’s a summary below or you can click here for a full copy and here for explanations. If you’d like to have input you could contact your State MP or you could email me to pass on, or you could click on Comments, at the end of this blog. You should be pretty quick on this one.

Your second chance is to do with the future role of Councils, what they are, what services they provide, how big they are and much more. You can go directly to the Metropolitan Local Government Review web site or read more about the 23 questions below.

Chance three is to say stuff ‘em all, I’m going to make a difference near home. The Great Freeway Clean-up is on for 27 November 2011, between The Narrows and Cranford Av, right past Mill Point and Como. Click

here for more info.

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1 Now) Local Government Amendment Bill key components:

• new disqualification provisions for council members so that they cease to hold office when elected to Parliament or when convicted of a major crime
• modifying the current power for the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal to recommend the levels of local government chief executive officer salaries and remuneration to making a binding determination which must be complied with by local governments
• inclusion of a new power for the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal to set the levels of fees and allowances paid to council members
• addition of a new head of power to enable regulations to be made to regulate the types of investments that local government may invest their money in
• clarifying the powers of local government to impose service charges for underground power and the ability for rebates to be paid under the Rates and Charges (Rebates and Deferments) Act 1992
• inclusion of a new power to enable the Minister to suspend a council for up to six months and/or require members of council to undertake remedial action where a council has become dysfunctional

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2 Later) Metropolitan Local Government Review

Submissions should be sent to: Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel GPO Box R1250 Perth WA 6844 or mlgr@dlg.wa.gov.au

Submissions can also be made via the website: metroreview.dlg.wa.gov.au

KEY QUESTIONS

1. Do you think there is a need for better local government arrangements in metropolitan Perth? Why? Or why not?

2. If you think there is a need for a better local government system, what should the priorities of the new system be? What should its objectives be?

3. What are the best aspects of local government in its current form?

What is your vision for the future of the Perth metropolitan area?

5. What do you think are the biggest issues facing metropolitan Perth?

6. Do you think local government in metropolitan Perth is ready to face the demands and challenges of the next 50 years? If not, what do you think needs to be changed?

7. Do you think that local government in Perth will be able to deal with national and international issues such as climate change and growing populations?

8. Do you think local government should be responsible for managing these issues, or should they be the responsibility of the State or federal governments?

9. Who should pay for the social and physical infrastructure and services required to cope with these issues?

10. Is metropolitan Perth in a position to be an effective international competitor? If not, what would you change?

11. What do you think about the other governance models discussed here, such as those adopted in Auckland or Vancouver? Which aspects of these models would work in Perth? Which aspects would not work?

12. Do you know of any governance systems that work well elsewhere, either in Australia or overseas, that might work well in Perth?

13. Should more be done by local governments to engage with the community?

14. Should voting be compulsory for local government elections?

15. Does metropolitan Perth have too many local governments? What would be the advantages and disadvantages in reducing the number of local governments?

16. If the boundaries and/or roles of Perth’s local governments are changed, what should be the criteria for doing so? Are the LGAB’s factors (cited above) the right criteria?

17. Should local government boundaries be set by an independent body and reviewed at regular intervals?

18. If Perth’s local government boundaries do not change, how do you think services to communities could be improved?

19. What do you consider are the main roles and responsibilities of local government?

20. In an urban area like Perth, which functions should belong to the State or Commonwealth governments?

21. Are there any State-provided services that local government might be better placed to provide?

22. What do you consider to be the principles of good governance at a local level?

23. Do you think there should be greater State government oversight of issues, such as key performance indicators and senior local government employee appointments and salaries?

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Whew, this not being a Councillor is a busy job.

Just click on Comments, below, to have your say.

Your Council, Your Connections

Your Council meetings are open to the public. To see and hear what goes on you can walk in at (almost) any time. In South Perth the formal monthly meeting is usually at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month. On the Tuesday before that there is normally a formal briefing session on items in the month’s agenda. This is where ratepayers and residents can submit questions to the Mayor on agenda items and where you can make a deputation to Council on these items. Recent topics have included Dog Law and HomesWest developments. Meetings only sometimes extend past two hours. Go on, participate in Democracy!

During the month Councillors will have many other forums, workshops and briefings. These are not generally open to the public and have a very informal style. Some Councillors also attend training sessions, for example updates on the Law, Code of Conduct and Rules of Conduct, on understanding financial reports, on Planning, and so on. It’s a bit of a work load.

When Councillors swear their oath of Office they voluntarily surrender some of their Constitutional right of free speech. Decision-making in an effective Council is in a collegiate style, rather than one of “getting the numbers”. This always gives a much better outcome for the City’s future. Councillors agree, too, to support the group’s decisions, whether they personally agree or not, voted in favour or not and even whether they were present or not. There are many laws about process and behaviour. One that surprises some is that a Councillor must have an open mind, be open to argument and not have a fixed position.

Perhaps you’d like to represent your community. Click here for some thoughts on what you might bring to your community.

In my area this month I’ve got Neighbourhood Watch onto Facebook, Twitter and the Web. You are welcome to join as a Friend, to Follow and to browse. I’ve also added a Community Calendar to this Blog, for you to use. You can link to it on the right side of this page. Feel free to send in your events, it’s free.

See you at the Community Garden planning session at McDougall Park on Sunday?

As always, we’d love to read your thoughts. Click on Comments, below, or email me and I’ll publish them for you.

Rooster to Feather Duster

Congratulations to Mayor Sue Doherty on selection by the community to lead our City of South Perth. Congrats also to Councillors Bill Gleeson, Fiona Reid and Sharon Hawkins-Zeeb who will represent us on Council. For myself, there’s lots to do in the extra thirty hours a week I now have as an ex-Councillor. Rooster one day, feather duster the next. Tonight I’ve updated the Neighbourhood Watch web site and created a Facebook page for that tremendous group of committed people. Now for a Blog update. Oh and click here for my Facebook page.

A common theme in the election was the community’s sincere concern about change and how we plan for a future that will be very different to anything in our past experience. Canning Bridge development was certainly a big issue.

Exciting presentation last night with ABC's Josh Byrne on Community Gardens. South Perth's projects at McDougall Park in Como include a shared garden for the community, a wonderfully imaginative kids' playground and preservation of the heritage dairy farm buildings. I love the way this park is going, with about five phases of people passing through each day and swans and other birds nesting in the middle.

McDougall Park was originally a dairy farm, started in 1914, operating until 1946 when Neil McDougall retired. Neil and Hazel gifted the farm to the Council and Hazel’s will specified that the house and farm buildings be preserved. They are now heritage listed.

I am excited about this project because I have seen others working well in Perth City, Fremantle and in Africa. What a great way to bring people together! You are invited to the next planning meeting at the park on Sunday 6 Nov 10am to 12 noon, Clydesdale St, Como. It’s open to everyone, especially if you live in Manning, Como or McDougall wards. See you there!

I’ve had a number of calls from people who received voting papers for the Mayor but none for the Ward Councillor. If this happened to you, or you received none, especially in Como, please let me know so I can advise the WAEC.

Next week sees a Special Electors Meeting at 5:30 on Monday at Manning Bowls Club, in response to a petition against development by Homes West at 4 Downey Drive, Manning. While many in our city are doing well, there are others that are in hard times and need our support. All in our community need shelter and security, basic needs for all that live on Earth. There are real questions around how we ensure such core needs for our residents, in an envelope of trust and respect. It is certainly not easy and I hope all that attend share these key values.

Manning residents will choose a new Councillor soon, as Cr Les Ozsdolay resigned this week. Les has worked hard and done wonders, being the driver behind Clontarf Markets, the chef for innumerable sausage sizzles and an ear for many residents. A by-election will happen some time soon. With heaps of support, I will be nominating and hope to be as useful.

Click on Comments below or just email me, to have your thoughts published here.

Preston Street for Dinner?

It’s Friday night in Como. Where shall we go for dinner? Preston Street of course! Sunset view down the hill, sails on the water, a cool drink to hand. Ahh, I love this place.

Now, what can we do to make it even better? What if we encouraged the restaurants to place tables on the pavement, leaving a walkway on the building side? Patrons at Just Tapas, Empress, Coffee at Cygnet, Wild Lime, Golden Mile, Lago di Como and others could enjoy sunset even more.

Then what if we did a bit of engineering and shaped the pavement a bit so tables stood straight? What if the businesses chipped in for the cost? What if we had a bit of gentle street music?

Do you have an idea? If we work with our Council we can do wonders with our City. Click on Comments below or just email me, to have your thoughts published here.

Highlights and Thank You

People of our City are amazing. Over the past four years as Councillor I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with wonderful community members. So many people are contributing their time, energy, skills and funds towards the future of our neighbourhood.

Some of the high points have been:

• The Friends of McDougall Park, who get together to tidy, weed and manage a beautiful locality. This park is an oasis of peace, where a pair of black swans is  nesting right now.

• Lyndon Lewis, who has personally contributed very large sums towards environmental landscaping of the Canning River shoreline.
• Members of Neighbourhood Watch, who work tirelessly to make our suburbs safer. It has been my pleasure to chair some of their Council liaison meetings and to design their web site.
• The people of Como, who value their neighbours, trust each other and regularly turn out at our Tea in the Park events, and join conversation about our future.
• The crew at SERCUL, working every day to safeguard our rivers. I’ve learned a lot while representing the City at SERCUL and while chairing the Local Government Reference Group of Perth Region Natural Resources Management Group.
• The Heritage Society, who have such passionate and interesting members, working on historical, natural and artistic heritage of the City.
• Millennium Kids, who create the leaders of tomorrow, conscious of our world.
• Members of Perth Bushwalkers, for whom I’ve been the Treasurer, sharing appreciation of our rich natural diversity.
• SIDS Foundation, based in our City and achieving wonders for families across WA.
• The Library team at the City, who have created a wondrous space.

• The Staff and Councillors at the City of South Perth, who show how good a local Council can be.

I’ve also learned a lot while being on bodies such as the WA Local Government Standards Panel, consultation groups around transport, light rail and river management, the Local Chambers business group and quite a few others.

Thank you to all of these people, for allowing me to be part of what you do and to contribute my own pieces to your objectives. It has been a satisfying, positive and enjoyable four years.

What more can we do together? How can we all make a difference? What do you think? Comment below, or email me, and I’ll get your thoughts published here.

 

Trust and Economy of our City

Do we think enough about what makes our local economy work? Transport, housing, environment, community services and sense of place all get attention at Council level. But what do we need to do to build local businesses, jobs and economic connections?

Trust is the bit we take for granted and it is the core of what makes Australia work, as a community and as an economy. In many poor countries there exists a culture that says it’s OK to cheat someone who is not a family member. In some places cheating is even seen as a sign of clever business. Willingness to trust strangers is what puts Australia at the top of league tables charting economic strength. It’s also why I enjoy street food markets in Asia.

Our position on the trusting spectrum is what makes us different. Trust is so much a part of our life that we treat it like oxygen. We trust that our customers will pay us, that our land tile is secure, that our kids will learn useful skills and sound values at school. We trust our friends, our neighbours and strangers at the shop. Is this the key to developing local jobs and being more of the village community that many of us seek? Is trust an asset to be nurtured, one of which we are not aware?

While the mining economy powers ahead, should we do more to consciously build local economies and promote local jobs? Can we have more jobs near where we live? Do we have to treat our suburb like a dormitory that we leave every morning for work, and return to, for food and sleep? Can we build local business so we are more a part of the life in the veins of our community?

Can the large number of home and small-office consultancies be part of this. Will National Broadband allow businesses to be quite different to anything in our past. I already know people who work for big UK and USA businesses, while living in Perth, using the Internet to help them service opposite time zones. Will the development of one of the world’s biggest super-computers in Kent Street next year spur innovation? Could Mend’s Street be the centre for fashion retail in WA? Can services for education capitalise on the rapid growth of Curtin Uni?

At Council this week I commenced a formal conversation around how we can promote the City’s economy. We went on to include this topic in the CEO’s key performance indicators for 2012. My dream is that Council can do much more in this direction. We’ve already begun, with a vision for Canning Bridge and for the area between the Freeway and the Zoo. The new library has small rooms available for business start-ups and community groups. Manning Hub redevelopment includes a significant business rejuvenation. There is thought around a business component of funding heritage preservation and the Old Mill.

What structures, ideas, inspirations and changes can we promote? How can we make a difference? What do you think? Comment below, or email me, and I’ll get your thoughts published here.

Empty Seats on Council

Nominations for WA Local Council seats close on Thursday afternoon 8 September 2011. Does this matter to you?

A number of Councils around the State still have empty positions. Others have only one person nominating in many Wards. Sometimes this means a good person gets straight in without being distracted from their good works; other times it means that a less skilled person get to lead your community.

Do you care enough to make a difference?

If you are reflecting on how you might contribute to the City’s future, and what it takes to do it well, you might like to look into one of my questioning blogs by clicking here.

There are some interesting electoral profiles out there. I like to look at what a person has done already, before I look at their view of the future. Oh, and I hope they have such a thing as a view. My ideal candidate should have an active history, should care a lot about others, should have already done a lot for others, should be a good listener and should have a focus on what our City will be like in our grandkids’ time.

My ideal candidate might have some connection with politics, but must be able to bring their personal values to the Council Chamber, and leave their party allegiances outside. They really must be able to work together and, when necessary, to disagree agreeably. Oh, and quite a few, I hope, don’t fit the standard model of greying male. (There are enough of us already.)

Go on, like Ernie says, get out there.

Do you have something to add? Click on Comments below or just email me, to have it published here.

 

Happy Birthday Perth

This week in 1829 the City of Perth was founded. (Lisa Scafidi has just alerted me to this fact.) A hundred and thirty five years earlier, in 1696, Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh landed here. For many thousands of years before that the original inhabitants had built a strong relationship with this place.

The early European settlers nearly starved. South Perth Mill was built to grind wheat, grown where the Royal Perth Golf Club now resides. The mill was our first industrial development.

The mill and the peninsular represent many things in both Colonial and Indigenous history. For this reason the proposed museum here will show both lines of history. Recognition of this is important to our future. Our old buildings, artefacts, oral and written history, works of art, our people and much else make up this history. My recent blog on preserving Heritage House asks about ways to show our respect for South Perth’s heritage in its many lines.

Susan Harris and others have written about early farms, bird nesting sites, an old fig tree, Canning River wrecks, dreaming and learning trails, artists such as May Gibbs and very much more. Susan’s thoughts about the depth of our shared heritage, what that might include and how we might preserve and understand it can be downloaded here.

In any case, the matter is a broad one and we do things better in this city  when we all contribute to the conversation. A motion to Council next week asks us to investigate building a community reference group around heritage matters. There are other views developing around this theme as we begin to appreciate heritage value in a time of rapid change. Do you have something to add? Click on Comments below or just email me, to have them published here.

Our Safer City

What a community this is. We want a safer city and we are doing something about it. We take responsibility, we work together, we look out for our neighbours.

The City’s planning approach now includes a Design-Out-Crime aspect, so that our streets are in clear view and have lots of pedestrians. We try to make our precincts active at all times of day. Neighbourhood Watch is very active, with members all over the place; members use the new web site we set up to make contact and update information. Since I started the wipe-out-graffiti project others have joined in, cleaning the streets of scribble as fast as it appears. This is all about people reclaiming their own streets.

Moorditch Keila, with support of the Council and SouthCare, has done wonderful things to connect indigenous young people. They’ve organised regular sporting and cultural events, had a lot of fun and significantly reduced the trouble that some members had got into.

Our Sports clubs are a really big part of enjoying life and connecting people, young and old. Hundreds of volunteers give their time and skills to make life better for others. Youth groups like SPYN- South Perth Youth Network, develop opportunities for young people and enjoy doing it. The image of our City is changing fast, getting even better and includes young people in our future.

By bringing young people into our lives, our planning for the future and everything we do, our City is safer, more enjoyable and more likely to be resilient in a changing world. Millennium Kids has really connected with hundreds of young people. Hey they even have a project called ‘Have Fun, Eat Chocolate & Care for the Environment.’ Older people have formed groups such as Friends of McDougall Park to take care of local parks, making them cleaner and safer for all of us.

Since we started Next Door Day on the last Sunday in October each year, so many people have taken up the idea, as far away as east coast towns. Inviting the neighbours over for food and drink, sharing  and having a chat has been popular and fun. It also makes our neighbourhood connected and safe. We’ll be doing it again this year.

We don’t outsource our caring about safety to a contractor, we don’t delude ourselves that private security cars make any difference. Melville has had security patrols for many years. People there like seeing the cars around a couple of times a year, but doubt their effectiveness. The Mayor of Melville comments that for workplace safety reasons the patrol officers must not approach possible offenders. Patrols must stay back, observe and call the police, just like any other resident. As I learned a few years ago, when my son was looking at jobs, private security officers are often new arrivals in Perth, working night shift, on their first jobs here. It’s a thankless, boring job, with little backup or support.

Working with our Police officers from Cannington and Kensington, especially on community projects, has had much better results. Our Eyes on the Street project has involved nearly everyone in the City, so that there are literally thousands of people watching out for each other, keeping us safe. By supporting the work of WA Police in our City we link to their network, skills and experience. Their fantastic work on Australia Day demonstrated how very effective our police are when the going gets tough.

Yes, our city can be safer, and by watching out for each other, by being involved in our community, we can make it that way. I’m doing my bit for a safe city; won’t you come with me?

Congratulations: Canning Bridge

Woowie! I did the big Toyota leap today when the Planning Minister, John Day, announced that WA State Cabinet has endorsed our plan for Canning Bridge precinct.

Congratulations to all of the hundreds of community members on both sides of the river who have contributed to this plan. Big thanks also to the thoroughly professional staff members and consultants who put it together. Sincere recognition too for the Councillors of South Perth and Melville who worked on and supported the ideas.

This development will be about diversity of lifestyle choices, a lot less use of cars, lower environmental impact and a living space where pedestrians come first. A community style called Transit Oriented Design is based on being close to public transport. The Minister said that he expected that the final developments could see over a billion dollars of State, commercial and private investment in the precinct.

Today’s announcement echoes recent policy announcements indicating that our city will rely less on cars and a lot more on public transport. Detailed planning can now commence, for the myriad things that go into a place where people want to live. Changes won’t happen tomorrow but we are certain to see progress over the forthcoming years.

The first step is likely to be a new bus facility, right off the bridge. This will make the bridge safer, easier to use and will ease the crowding that comes from its popularity. The latest designs were shown this week; they get better with every review.

In living memory the precinct has changed from one with dairy farms and horse transport to being at the front of WA’s developments. My vision is that we continue to be involved all the way, and ensure that this happens the way we want it to. Let’s preserve what we love, change what we need to and build a community that is durable.

Other news of developments in the City this week included the latest proposals for widening of Canning Highway, to accommodate buses or light rail and exciting plans for Manning Hub. Our new street verges policy almost bans plastic grass, while allowing diverse plants and street gardens.

Gee, it’s good to be on a Council that works on strong planning while recognising our past. What a City!

What are your thoughts? Let’s have more positive, optimistic, imaginative ideas for the future of our city. Please click ‘Comments’ below to add your thoughts. Just log in as “Name” (no password required) or email me and I’ll publish your words right here.

Heritage House, South Perth

Our famous and much-loved Heritage House was built in 1904, originally to be the Council House. Since a new Civic Centre was built in 1960 this building has had a number of uses. The building was recognised by the Heritage Council of WA in 1999. This means that the City is required to protect the site. Most recently it has been the home of the May and Herbert Gibbs Art Gallery, recognising the creators of much famous work, including the Gumnut Babies. The rooms also display items of local history, a vital and fascinating link with our past.

Nearby is the Perth Zoo, the destination for six hundred thousand visitors a year. Equally close are coffee shops, other heritage buildings, the lively Windsor Hotel, Mends Street shopping precinct and the ferry to Perth. What is missing is a permanent use and attraction that brings regular visitors, and some way of providing financial support to keep it alive.

Until recently this little gem was staffed by one person and saw almost no visitors. To keep Heritage House going we need imagination, at least one distinct purpose and a full-time staff of at least two. The likely running costs will be about $150,000 per year. How do we do it?

My vision is that we can change the zoning from ‘Civic and Cultural’ to ‘Commercial’ to match that of the rest of the Mends Street area, and create two purposes within the building. One purpose would curate and display works of art and history; the other would contribute to community development while providing funds for operation and maintenance. Oh, and a shop would probably not fit either of these needs.

I have heard that the Australia Day Council of WA has expressed interest in using the facility. Their patron is His Excellency Dr Ken Michael AC, Governor of Western Australia and the Vice Patron is Premier of WA, Colin Barnett.

Another use could be to provide a Sustainability Information and Demonstration centre, supported by relevant industries. This has been done very successfully in Woollahra, Sydney, an area much like South Perth.

What are your thoughts? I’m really interested in hearing positive, optimistic, imaginative ideas for the future of this place. Please click ‘Comments’ below to add your thoughts. Just log in as “Name” (no password required) or email me and I’ll publish your words right here.

Had Enough Graffiti

Care about your street? Tired of scribble? Here’s what I do; you can too. I go to the hardware store, buy a can of discount water-based paint and a cheap brush. I get the shop to add some suitable tint then I get to work in the street.

Where I live my neighbours care about the park. If they see a bit of rubbish, a milk carton or a dog bundle they put it in the bin. In McDougall Park they’ve even formed  Friends of the Park group that keeps the park smart. They even pull up weeds around the lake and check the sand play-pits for sharp objects. Oh, and they all get together for coffee in the park on Sundays.

This is a tremendous place to live and our Council staff do a wonderful job. What is extra-special is that our neighbours do their bit too. All around the City there are local groups looking after their environment. In Manning the residents formed a team with the City to work on mosquito and wetland management. In Jackson Road some residents are working together to plan for the impact of possible traffic changes and to promote light rail along Manning Road. Some home builders are developing methods to stop sand washing into drains from building sites. An action group of dog owners has got together to work out cooperative ways of sharing parks with sporting groups. Some inspired locals have put together sporting and activity groups for young people, such as Moorditch Keila, Millennium Kids, skate, cricket and football clubs .There are plenty more examples around here.

People say that caring for the world around us makes us feel good too. I think that doing it with our friends and neighbours is even better.

As usual, please click ‘Comments’ below to add your thoughts. Just log in as “Name” (no password required) or email me and I’ll publish your words right here.

So You Want to be a Councillor?

Our communities need good leadership. Are you up to it? October is time for the next WA Council elections, in all 139 Council areas. I thought I’d be bold and suggest some attributes that might be valuable to a Councillor. If you are active in local clubs and groups and are concerned about our future, you might like to self-assess.

MUST HAVE

• Interest in long-term direction of your local community
• Listening skills, prepared to listen more often than to tell
• Prepared to meet with the community, often
• At least one, and often two or three evenings a week to dedicate to the community
• Able to read and understand a voluminous weekly information pack
• Ability to think strategically about organisational purpose
• Effective decision-making skills
• Understand the difference between individual and group decision-making
• Able to work to sustain long-term viability and define values for self and the Council
• Able to imagine and lead new future directions
• Empathy
• Able to discuss widely differing opinions respectfully and to disagree agreeably
• Able to synthesise direction amidst complexity and conflicting values and objectives
• Understand the difference between management and leadership (councillors have no executive authority at all)
• Not be focussed on a ‘single issue’
• Be prepared to assess your own biases and positions

SHOULD HAVE

• Ability to read and interpret financial reports
• Sense of humour
• Collaborative style
• Wide range of contacts and life experience
• Be well travelled and widely read
• An enquiring mind
• Risk assessment skills
• Open to continuous learning

GOOD TO HAVE

• Expertise in at least one relevant field, e.g. architecture, town planning, finance, environment, waste, law, social services, communications, psychology, science.
• Board experience
• Qualifications such as MBA, GAICD (Australian Institute of Company Directors)
• Preparedness to respond with good grace and respect in all sorts of circumstances
  
  
• Please realise too that the maximum allowance for your work is between nine and thirty thousand dollars a year (edited 2013), so you really do have to be motivated by spirit.
  The vital point is that you can make a real difference to the present and future of your community.
  Oh, and if you live in South Perth, don’t forget Tea and Talk in the Park, Sunday 15 May 2011, 3 pm, McDougall Park
  As usual, please click ‘Comments’ below to add your thoughts. Just log in as “Name” (no password required) or email me and I’ll publish your words right here.

Como Tea in the Park

You are invited! To another of our Como community tea conversations. Come and have your say about anything you like, to do with our community in South Perth. Your Councillors (Glen Cridland and myself) will be there, together with lots of other people. I’ll bring tea, coffee and biscuits. Please feel free to bring along some scones or whatever you’d like to share.

There is quite a lot happening: weather changes, Canning Bridge development, new coffee shops, housing, light rail, Curtin Uni growth and lots more. We’ll do our best to answer questions and we’ll certainly listen to YOU.

See you on Sunday 15 May at 3 pm. at McDougall Park, Clydesdale St, Como.

If you can’t be there please let us read your comments. Click on Comments below and tell us all what you think. Just log in as “Name” (no password required) or email me and I’ll publish your words right here.

Please Steal This Idea

Here’s an opportunity to (almost) disconnect part of the City from the power grid, burn less coal and save money! Opportunities like this are not common and this one is fairly easy to imagine.

We are proposing to rezone a mixed- use area of 1950s single-story houses, currently used for consulting rooms of various sorts, and some small blocks of flats. The patch is opposite the Perth Zoo, between Richardson Park cricket ground and the Mill Point freeway off- ramp. Proposed new zoning is to allow taller buildings with the first three storeys extending out to the boundaries of blocks over 1000 square metres and to then extend upward to 25 or 41 metres with thinner set-back spires. This will allow air and light between buildings without an imposing visual effect.

Now for the action! We could use an energy configuration known as “Tri-Generation”. This would involve a gas-fired local generator, supplying electricity to all properties within the precinct. Such local generation would avoid the very significant financial and environmental costs of burning inefficient coal at Collie. We’d also avoid transmission losses, estimated at about 6% of total cost. The generator would operate from a building the size of a small house. That’s the first big win.

Now, the waste heat from this generator could heat water, to be piped around the precinct, warming offices in winter and powering air- conditioners in summer. I have seen and read of this operating in many places already, such as Woking, UK and Tromso, Sweden. Sydney is rethinking its CBD energy system this way, with inspiration from Alan Jones. There’s another big win here- no heating and cooling costs, a big number.

Part 3 would be to require all new developments to install rooftop solar PhotoVoltaic panels and wind micro- turbines, but not to install inverters (a major part of the costs for standard PV systems.) These panels would be required to connect directly to a neighbourhood Direct Current network, connected to a control system and inverter at the power building. There the DC current would be switched to AC and supplied to the same local grid as used by the gas generator. The area is swept daily by winds across Melville Water. Protection will be needed for migratory birds.

For security of supply the precinct would maintain connection to the Synergy grid, and contracted with the best bid from a commercial supplier, of which there are several. As the generator would work at optimum revolutions, excess power could be routed to the grid at an agreed feed-in tariff rate.

Binding this technical system together would be a financial structure based on a public-private partnership and energy supply contracts similar to strata title. Projected cost savings are expected to be above twenty per cent. Environmental benefits are significant.

This is going to take a bit of new thinking, something that we are good at in WA. Please let’s read your comments. Click below and log in as Name or Anonymous or send me an email and I’ll publish for you.

Imagine the Possible

Light rail from Canning Bridge to Curtin Uni then onwards to Victoria Park, Perth City, West Perth, the hospitals and UWA? A lot less cars on the road, safer travel and cleaner air?

Party time in South Perth, Angelo Street Fiesta. Hey, what if this were to be a taste of the future for places like Angelo Street, Preston Street and Manning Hub?

Sidewalk cafes, stalls on the last Saturday of the month, a licenced restaurant or three, people out and seeing friends, what a spirited place this could be.

A shuttle bus from Canning Bridge to the Zoo, a rail station at South Perth, complete redevelopment of the Richardson to Judd Street area, an iconic new business, commercial and residential development in the Civic Triangle behind the old Police Station, a museum and cultural precinct at the Old Mill?

What else is possible in our City?

In 2008- 09 more than two thousand people were involved in the City Vision project, thinking about our future in 2030. Residents, Councillors, facilitators, teachers and lots of others contributed to an imaginative project. Now I think it’s time to confirm that we have consensus on this view, modifying it if necessary. Then we can develop a consistent set of long- term goals and plan for ways to achieve them.

Of course we’ll have a wide range of conversations about our life and our City. That is tremendous.

Would you like to start now? Click on Comments below and tell us all what you think. Just log in as “Name” (no password required) or email me and I’ll publish your words right here.

What a Waste? Ah- hah!!

What if we used our hundreds of hectares of land- fill rubbish tips as solar power generating sites? These old tips are too unstable and often too toxic to ever build houses on. However, they are flat, they are close- by and they are near the grid. Oh, and we have lots of sun.

For decades we have dumped our rubbish in big pits around the city, often in old sand mines. The older ones weren’t even lined. Nearly all of them are covered over now. At some we generate power by burning the methane gas they emit. This gas is running out as the rubbish rots away. That business model is about to disappear. However, these sites have exiting power lines that already link to the WA grid.

Some tip sites might suit solar power generation; others might suit wind power. The photo shows how companies in Victoria already generate energy on site, in this case with roof- top wind power.

Our city’s energy is highly dependent on a gas pipeline from Veranus Island. A couple of years ago this source suffered short- term catastrophic failure in mid- summer; we sweated. Prudent risk management suggests that we need alternative sources of energy. Large solar sources could provide part of such alternatives.

Our highest power use is in day time, in hot weather, when the sun shines. We already have a bit of stand- by diesel power for night time. There are three more 10 Mw diesel plants in construction- just to stand by in case of emergency.

The land surface of our tips is continually subsiding. This is one reason we should not build houses on them. The local manager for a large solar power company says that their automatic tracking technology could easily and continuously adjust solar panels for this subsidence.

Local Councils own the tip land. By reaching commercial arrangement with power companies Councils could become their own power utilities or could supply to the grid. Continuity of tenure to enable a return on investment would be a question easily resolved in law.

By offsetting our tip methane emissions with renewable power generation we can provide a financial benefit to our residents.

So, we diminish our power bill, we reduce carbon emissions, we receive a feed- in tariff from the State Government, we make use of wasteland. Is this something we can work on?

Have your say, please. Just click on “Comments” below.

As Lamppost is to Dog …

Gee Community Democracy is wonderful. Nothing like pets to get people on their feet. Last week 277 residents, mainly dog owners, turned out to show their feelings about our new dog laws. Opinions were expressed with passion; not all the answers satisfied everybody. Some attendees felt afraid to speak, others spoke strongly.

Dozens of community meetings have happened over the past few years. This is such a good City to be in and these are such good people to represent. This spirit of involvement keeps us on our toes.

Just sometimes though, it feels like Councillor is to Community as lamppost is to dog. When we make decisions at open meetings, with an almost unattended public gallery, we are accused of deciding in secret. When we listen to new ideas and learn of new facts we are accused of changing our minds. Sometimes, at personal and political risk, I feel like quoting John Howard, who asked a journalist “When the facts change I change my mind. What do you do?” When we take into account a range of other people’s values and visions we are accused of not listening.

What is certain, is that different people attach different value to many places. One piece of open space often has a range of values to Noongar people, to environmental managers, fisher- folk, dog owners, dance groups, walkers, kite enthusiasts and so on.

Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sooo, the next Como “Tea in the Park” will be at 3 p.m. on a Sunday in a few weeks time at McDougall Park (date to be advised). Please come along, bring a chair, enjoy a cuppa and conversation, let your Councillors know what is important to you.

Meanwhile, please feel free to have your say in public by clicking on Comments below, login as Anonymous or Name, or just email me, and I’ll publish your words for you.

What is a Library Today? See this!!

South Perth’s new library is about to open. It’s a beauty. I think it answers the very real question of “What is a Library Today?” Sure, the design is stunning, the sense is dynamic and attention to detail is awesome.

If you have a moment this place is worth visiting to see how the community has come up with the answers to a modern question. Oh, and enjoy the experience too.

Something for all ages: story- timers, students, professionals and leisure readers, all can enjoy the natural light, the airy space, access to the books we love and the electronic info we crave.

Attention to environmental impact is a major feature of design. Thought about the role of a library has led to some new thinking. With help from WA Lotteries and the Federal Government, South Perth, our architects and builders have achieved something special.

Check it out!!

Foreign Aid and Thank You

To all those people who have sent me mail about Australia’s aid budget: Thank You.

Thank you for your thoughts on why we should stop helping people in other countries. I understand that you believe that we should stop sending food to poor people affected by massive floods and earthquakes. I understand too that you believe that we should not support education programs in Indonesia and economic development in other countries in our region.

I could say that it is my firm belief that such aid is in our own interest, that development of nearby economies will provide us with stronger trading partners. I could say that better educated neighbours will be better able to feed and support themselves, that their women and children will fare better and that their health will be of higher standard. I could say that the population of nearby countries might do better and not be so keen to board leaky boats bound for our shores.

I could say too that much of our aid money goes to pay a minimal living wage to the thousands of Aussies who give years of their life: Aussie engineers, Aussie doctors and nurses, Aussie teachers. These are who people who show our face to the world, the people who are trusted in the towns and villages of our region and the people who influence the next generation of leaders in the islands and nations nearby.

However, the real reason I respond here is that I believe that as members of a very rich country, we simply have a moral duty to help those less fortunate. No more, no less.

I am sorry that you don’t share this belief and chose instead to campaign against the kindness shown by Australia and Australians to those in need. I really hope that the recipients of these messages reflect and respond more kindly.

Have your say by clicking on Comments below and logging in as a name or anonymously, or just email me and I’ll publish your constructive comments.

Plastic Lawn- Is it Green?

In my suburb there are a few new street verge covers made of plastic lawn. Are these treatments environmentally responsible?

Plastic lawn of course uses less water, no fertiliser and doesn’t require energy for mowing. In these respects it seems to have less environmental impact. However a full life- cycle analysis shows that:

• It takes an very large amount of water, energy and labour to manufacture and ship the material
• The polymer plastics used are not bio- degradable, so they end up as land- fill or worse
• Eventual degradation releases environmental toxins to leach into the groundwater, our drinking water
• Plastic lawn surfaces are twenty degrees or more hotter than natural lawn or ground- cover: not good for the family, street or community
• The bright green surface year- round looks very un- natural
• Rain water runs off plastic lawn, to the drain and river, whereas planted ground- cover promotes infiltration to replenish our groundwater supplies
• The soil under good planted cover contains a healthy balance of bacteria, insects, ants and worms; the soil under plastic lawn is sterile
• A live ground cover uses CO2 and produces oxygen, plastic lawn does not
• A badly- maintained plastic lawn looks just as bad as a neglected verge, only made of plastic
• In a flood event the plastic mat will wash away and add to river pollution for a very long time
• A street verge is a public place, shared by neighbours, kids, dogs, birds and pedestrians. Plastic lawn is neither pleasant nor healthy for any of these users

Personally, I’d rather see good native ground- cover before lawn, for reasons of water and energy efficiency, because of Hay Fever, the birds and because of reduced fertiliser use, benefiting the river. There are quite a few lawn- alternatives; click here and here for some of them.

Have your say by clicking on Comments below and logging in as a name or anonymously, or just email me and I’ll publish your comments.

Efficient, Comfortable Homes

Our electricity and gas bills are rising. We live in bigger homes and we don’t design them very well. We don’t listen to our architects when they talk about energy use. We roll our eyes when someone mentions the operating cost of our house. Some places are just dangerous, especially for kids.

That will soon change when sellers and renters of homes will be required to produce a report, a bit like the star ratings on our fridges and washers. These sustainability reports will inform new residents about the future running cost, comfort and safety of their homes.

All Australian States agreed at Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2009 to set up mandatory energy efficiency disclosure for house sellers and renters. This is already compulsory in Queensland and ACT. Our Federal Government has released a National Strategy on Energy Efficiency.

Key areas of reporting will cover energy, water, safety and disability access. I expect that a report will cost about a hundred dollars. To date what the other States have not all done very well is to keep people informed.

The ten hottest years on record for the planet have occurred in the last twelve years. Despite local extreme cold and snow in the northern winter, 2010 was still the hottest year ever recorded for the whole planet. We also see extremes of cold and heat, flood and drought, across many parts of the world and right here where we live. The new home assessment and disclosure measures are likely to help us adapt to the changes happening around us.

There will also be a need for measurement standards, training and accreditation of inspectors, auditing of reports and public trust in the system. There are opportunities here for business and for people to train and work in these roles. We can work with this system to reduce our personal carbon footprint. Well- designed homes will be more attractive in the market.

Click on “Comments” below to add your thoughts for everyone to read, or just email me and I’ll publish for you.