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.