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.

Canning Bridge Vision update

Australia Day on the Swan River was magnificent. There were less people during the day but all those who made the effort appreciated the occasion. The family and youth zones were especially good; staff and volunteers did a fantastic job. (Just had to mention that.)

The cities of South Perth and Melville are to hold a Public Information Briefing for the Canning Bridge Precinct Vision at the City of Melville offices in Almondbury Road, Booragoon on Saturday, 13 February 2010 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm.

To attend the information session, just call the City of Melville to register your interest on 9364 0666 by no later than 10 February. If you are not able to attend or require information, you can contact South Perth’s Customer Service Team on 9474 0777

This session is on the weekend of the Leeuwin Concert and at a time of very many other events. South Perth’s CEO, Cliff Frewing, advises that they do not plan to hold any additional consultation on other days. I have asked for copies of the briefing materials to include in a later blog on this site for you.

If you have an interest in the way that the Canning Bridge area develops over the next twenty years then this is an opportunity to listen and to speak up.

You can also have your say by clicking on ‘Comments’ below.

Canning Bridge Vision

At last night’s Council meetings the Cities of South Perth and Melville simultaneously agreed to endorse the Canning Bridge Rail Station Study “Precinct Vision.” This was the culmination of an excellent series of public meetings, community input and conscious  development.

This plan is the result of two years of community workshops and consultant design work and has had widespread input from many, many people. This included a joint session of both Councils earlier in the year. The vision for our side of the bridge has a residential flavour; Melville’s is of very mixed- use, including high- rise development, with a town square and central hub.

Click here for a link in the press today.

The City will be advertising details of the plan for your comment in January so be sure to read the details and have your say. Key aspects for South Perth, raised in community forums and addressed in the Vision, include:

• better pedestrian access
• improved links with Curtin University
• some commercial development on Canning Highway, Como
• building of a third bridge and retiring the older structure, possibly for use as community services such as coffee shops on the bridge
• Manning Road southbound access
• greatly improved bus stop arrangements
• kiss ‘n ride facilities
• better all- round traffic arrangements
• foreshore enhancement, with recreation facilities
• allowance for a ferry station

Further details will be released in January. There will be notes on this Blog. Proposed developments will be over many years, and might not commence immediately. Many people have already had their say at community meetings. Do you have any more to add? Click on “Comments” below, and select 'anonymous' or enter your details if you prefer.

Making a Difference

Isn’t today magnificent? This morning saw the annual “Thank a Volunteer” breakfast at McDougal Park. About 150 people enjoyed breakfast under the gum trees and awards to individuals for outstanding service to the community.

Quite a few people couldn’t get to the ceremony because they were, well, volunteering. I am certain that there are many, many other individuals and clubs very busy with what they do and perhaps don’t know about this annual award. Perhaps next year you might nominate an individual from your club for public recognition and thanks.

Thanks also to the City staff who arranged the memorable event.

All of these people make South Perth and Australia wonderful.

Tree Poisoning in our Parks

Trees in Sir James Mitchell Park and Sandon Park have died. The City’s Environment Manager has reported today that laboratory analysis of soil and tree tissue from Sandon Park shows that the trees were poisoned.

The herbicide used to kill this vegetation is Hexazinone, commonly known as "Velpar". This herbicide has an extremely toxic effect on native vegetation, but poses little threat to humans in moderate dosages. However, the amounts indicated within the soil and tissue samples have proved to be well outside the standard application rate, so much so that it appears the herbicide has been poured directly onto the vegetation, without dilution.

At the more than twenty five Community Visioning meetings over the last year, one of the things that people said they most valued about South Perth was its green, leafy nature. It would seem that some owners of premium real estate might wish to destroy this in order to enhance their own river views.

Have your say by clicking “Comments” below.

The Little Hospital That Could

Here’s some community good news! At the South Perth Hospital annual dinner on Friday night the Chairman, Bob Maher, spoke of their recent achievements. These included the hospital being placed Number 1 in Australia in awards for patient care and satisfaction in surveys run by HBF and Medibank Private. Not bad for a little community hospital.

Bob thanked the entire staff for the quality of care and the patient happiness this produced.

Recognising Bob’s leadership style, which encourages participation by everyone he meets, the board presented Bob with a suitable safety item (above).

The Mayor also recognised Bob’s work and commended the way he’d managed approvals for the new developments under way.

We are so fortunate in South Perth that we have lots of people like this, making a difference in the Community.

Access to Development Plans

Over the past couple of years the South Perth Council has seen some spirited discussions about public access to development plans. While the City has a commitment to open and accountable government, some people have held that a property owner has the right to not allow their plans to be seen by interested parties. Others maintain that members of the community have a right to know what is happening next door and nearby.

There have been some examples where neighbours have successfully pointed out ways that proposed developments do not meet criteria for approval. In other cases it seems to me just plain common sense that people should be informed about what is happening.

As the density of population increases, plenty of research shows that conflict increases even faster. I believe that an informed community will probably have less conflict than one where people have developments sprung on them by surprise.

The present situation is that people can access development plans by making a Freedom of Information application, a process taking both time and money. We have even had a prominent lawyer provide opinion that it might be in breach of copyright- an opinion that I don’t share (but I’m not a lawyer.) Surely if you can get a document under FoI, and our commitment is to open administration then we should make plans easily available

I have seen many other cities where this sort of information is freely available and openly published. This picture shows an advisory panel that I saw recently in Hong Kong. Similar things are common on our east coast.

Please have your say by clicking “Comments” below.

Speed Bumps on Melville Parade?

We have some welcome, new speed bumps on Melville Parade. I note that I can drive in the middle of the road in my mid- size car with barely a bump noticeable.

I think that this probably means that the bumps will have almost no effect on speeding vehicles unless such vehicles are racing side- by- side.

Our City engineers report that Main Roads are convinced the central unbroken separation line (an offence to cross them except to turn right into a street or crossing) and raised pavement markers will prevent this activity. Melville Parade is a 2008/09 project and fully funded by Main Roads (It was delayed as Main Roads finalised the Standards and agreed upon the design.)

Surely the existence of circular black tyre tracks, indicating doughnuts at the intersection, would indicate that demonstrated behaviour is at odds with the expectation that drivers abide by the law. The speed bumps are not there to modify the behaviour of law- abiding drivers, but rather to slow down those who have an alternative set of values. It is probably unlikely that a solid white line in the middle of the road will prevent these drivers from just speeding through the gap between the bumps.

Don’t you just love centralised rules? Comments from you? Click below.

Caring for Our Country

In Local Government we take pride in being passionate about local issues. Does this then make us less capable of thinking about broad, bigger picture matters? Metropolitan Perth has big issues, such as waste disposal, river walls, climate change, education, population growth, transit links, economic development. Some of these questions are too small for State and are too big for Local Government. Even if all our councils are viable, the metropolitan area needs amalgamations to address these and other big question matters. Financial analysis of Councils’ financial sustainability misses this point.

Over the past year it has been my pleasure to work with some amazing people from the Perth regional Natural Resources Management Group. This organisation aims to promote sustainable, coordinated  development to the local Councils of the region. They do this at the same time as working to promote a national strategy devoted to Caring for our Country.

Issues addressed recently have included climate change, waste management around Perth, environmental impact of light industry, sustainable, integrated land use planning, documented systems for environmental management and runoff from building sites and factories into the Swan River.

Some of these high phrases can be described much more simply; in the case of runoff, it is simply ethically unacceptable to let our crap run down the drains and to dump our waste in the Swan River. In the case of light industry, that is where sixty percent of the world’s pollution originates so let’s fix it first.

My own take on this is that people who have access to natural areas are generally happier and healthier. Therefore it makes sense to have the concept of Caring for Our Country as part of the decisions, operations and the processes that we manage every day.

Have your say by clicking on ‘Comments’ below.

Tree Planting on James Mitchell Park

Hooray! After years of consultation, the Council has approved new tree planting on the South Perth foreshore.

SJM is one of the key components to the identity of the City of South Perth, to state the obvious. In recognition of this, the City has commissioned at least 19 reports and plans for the area in the last 20 years. At all stages the City has worked closely with many respected and trusted organisations. The City has also gone to extreme lengths to maintain contact with residents.

Recognising that the park is many things to many people the City has developed a Management Plan for the area. One of the ways that the City of South Perth leads the field of Local Government in Australia, and something that we can be really proud of, is our use of Sustainability Assessment Analysis. City officers have drawn together the threads of diverse demands, expectations, science, history and economy. Many people have been passionate in promoting their particular facet of interest in SJMP. I recognize the genuine feelings of all these people for this iconic component of South Perth, even those who want the trees removed.

Last Tuesday we received a detailed briefing on the Sustainability Assessment report regarding tree planting in SJMP. The report came after extensive consultation and analysis. It involved rigorous study, passionate input from diverse members of the community, and most important of all, a systematic analysis of all inputs.

In reaching this stage the City put out information sheets and Feedback Forms, advertised in the Southern Gazette, placed items on our web sites, held two community meetings, developed an Advisory Group of community members, distributed one thousand information sheets and feedback forms at Fiesta and yet more to residents of Mill Point and Civic Wards. 403 forms were returned. The vast majority of respondents wanted more trees. Other important points raised were about environmental issues, more flowering trees, respect for existing views, more shade near facilities, safety and more lighting.

A petition signed by over 200 people was also received, asking for improved security and safety, better drainage, additional lighting, improved environmental management, new seating, removal of mud from beaches, preservation of open spaces and planting of more trees in other parks.

Key aspects of the selected plan are:

• Additional trees to be located to provide shade for people using recreational areas
• Planting to be in small clusters, maintaining existing view corridors
• Some planting to be near the river to intercept fertilizer run- off and to protect the banks from erosion, a matter of great concern
• Plantings to be in natural configurations, supporting environmental integrity
• Species to be mainly Salt Sheoaks (Belah), Paperbarks (Cadjebut) and Swamp Banksias plus a small number of Flooded Gums and Peppermints.

Recognition of the value of this plan comes from the peak body representing the river, the Swan River Trust, who write that “The tree planting proposal is clearly in line with the values and actions of the Management Plan and is STRONGLY SUPPORTED by the Trust”

I look forward to enjoying summer days in the park.

Please feel free to add your thoughts by clicking on Comments, below.

Surprise Treasure

This week I was picking up my post in South Perth, just like on any other day of the year, walking past the same bushes I see every day and was almost bowled over by the sight of this. What I had thought for years was just another Bottlebrush was a Bird’s Beak Hakea in full bloom.

The seed pods look just like small birds keeping watch over the blooms. These flowers, in turn, bloom directly out of the branches, not out of stems like any other plant.

Sometimes the most amazing things are there to be discovered on a perfectly ordinary day. (You can click on the images to expand them and see the bird- shaped seed pods.)

What have you seen recently that took your breath away?

Storm Damage

The recent storms across Perth certainly tested the river walls. Here are some photos of the Como beach area, showing the effect of waves, active erosion close to the freeway and the greater effect of back- flow erosion after waves, with traffic in the close background. (Click on the images to enlarge them.)

Here, too, are some pictures of the palm trees, a few weeks before, and then during the storms. Previous weather events had removed nearly all of the root supports for these trees. The City of South Perth wisely removed the trees when the weather forecast predicted storms. Had they not done so I am sure that the trees would have crashed across the bike path and affected freeway traffic.

  The world is in constant change, and always has been. Our challenge is to manage our place in this change.

Got any thoughts on the issue? Click "Comments" below.

Dogs in McDougall Park

There's been a little discussion around dogs in McDougall Park recently so I contacted the Council on the matter. The Manager, Environmental Health & Regulatory Services for the City of South Perth reports that the Dog Local Law clearly prohibits dogs in McDougall Park.

Some of the signs are not clear on this matter and will be replaced in the near future. Meanwhile it would be good if we could encourage dog owners to walk their pets somewhere else, not in McDougall Park. We all love our park, the wild birds and our pets and sometimes we have to enjoy them separately.