Mayor Asks Local Candidates to Commit to 14-Point Plan

Following his calls for the local candidates in the 6 September election to state what they are going to do for the City of Melville if elected, the Mayor said he wants local candidates to address a number of pressing local issues that require State Government support.

“I have previously requested that our local candidates help stop the ever-increasing cost shifting onto local government by providing extra resources and funding; now I want them to commit to taking some of the burden off our residents and ratepayers by working with us to develop solutions to local and regional problems,” he said.

“At the City of Melville, we want to develop a better relationship with the State Government over the next four years. We believe the upcoming State Election is a good opportunity to grab the attention of local candidates seeking the support of their communities.”

Early responses to the Mayor’s request to candidates to state what they are going to do for the City of Melville have been positive. They include $250,000 from Chris Back, the Liberal candidate for Alfred Cove, for the construction of a light-controlled pedestrian crossing at St Benedict’s School and $330,000 from Jo Francis, the Liberal candidate for Jandakot, to construct a free-to-use public exercise area in Leeming.

In his 14-point plan, Mayor Aubrey wants the State Government to:

1.   Tackle Regional Transport Issues
We need the State Government to follow up on its commitment to an integrated transport study for the region in view of the demand created from State projects such as the Fiona Stanley Hospital/Murdoch Activity Centre and major industrial and commercial developments. We also want to address problems of increasing truck traffic west of the Kwinana Freeway and the need to improve east-west transport routes. Better transport linkages need to be created between City of Melville facilities and the surrounding region, including Fremantle and Perth City, and the State Government should investigate enhanced ferry services, including from Canning Bridge to UWA and to Perth City. Some of the bridges in municipality, including Canning Bridge will need to upgraded with increased lanes and structural improvements in the next 15 to 20 years to cope with increased vehicle usage. Additionally, through the South West Group, we would like more involvement in prioritising transport infrastructure funding projects such as AusLink 2 and the Building Australia Fund. It is estimated that $400 million in investment will be required between 2009 and 2014 to fund regional transport infrastructure.

2.   Commit Funding to Local CAT Bus Study
In 2006-2007, through the Melville Visions and Community Planning process, it became evident that the local community believed there was a lack of adequate public transport services in the municipality and was strongly in favour of a CAT bus system that would link strategic activity centres in Melville (eg. Canning Bridge, Garden City Shopping Centre, Murdoch University, Murdoch Hospital and the new train stations). As the State Government is responsible for planning for and providing public transport, we are seeking $150,000 funding for a study to determine the viability and operational requirements of establishing a CAT bus service in the City of Melville.

3.   Improve Law and Order Services
The City’s CSS (Community Safety and Security) patrol service costs the municipality $1.85 million a year. Graffiti removal (criminal damage) costs the City about $400,000 each year. We also spend a lot of money on youth and social programs to help discourage anti-social and criminal behaviour. The City would like to develop a partnership with the State Government to reduce these problems through education, monitoring (CCTV) and enforcement and by the State Government investing in local and regional crime prevention strategies. We also want an assurance there won’t be a reduction in local police numbers if there is the development of a regional police station in Fremantle.

4.      Contribute Equitable Amount to Foreshore Restoration and Management
The City of Melville has 18km of foreshore, which is used by City of Melville residents and visitors. Sections of the foreshore are experiencing serious erosion and environmental degradation. Point Walter is a prime example where vegetation and infrastructure are being undermined by erosion. The area around the Swan Rowing Club near Canning Bridge also requires immediate attention. Although the rivers and foreshore come under the control of the Swan River Trust, the City of Melville has had to spend significant amounts of money to repair and maintain our foreshores through planting sedges and installing rock revetment. Funding from the State Government has been inadequate and we are now looking for greater collaboration with the State Government to contribute to works that could cost millions of dollars in repairs if not addressed in the near future.

5.   Address Traffic, Parking and Amenity Issues at Canning Bridge
The opening of the Canning Bridge Rail Station has exposed some serious infrastructure issues in the area. There is an urgent need to resolve parking issues in the surrounding areas in cities of Melville and South Perth to stop commuters from clogging up residential streets with their cars. Another priority is to redesign the existing bus interchange as the buses stopping on the bridge are causing congestion and a traffic hazard. There is also the issue of vehicle congestion along Canning Highway and the capacity of Canning Bridge. The State Government must improve pedestrian access to the station to improve safety as it is quite dangerous at the moment. These problems will be exacerbated in the next five years or so, as development densities around Canning Bridge increase in line with State Government Transit Oriented Development (TOD) guidelines.

6.   Work in Partnership with City to Manage Ken Hurst Park/Beeliar Regional Park
The City of Melville purchased the 50ha Ken Hurst Park site, in Leeming, many years ago for commercial development but the park has since been designated as potential Bush Forever site by the State Government. While it is recognised that the site is of environmental significance and must be protected, compensation to City of Melville ratepayers or a land exchange is necessary if the State reserves the land for parks and recreation or a Bush Forever site. Additionally, we want to work in partnership with both the State Government and Federal Government to implement the Beeliar Park Management Plan and enhance other regional bushland reserves to protect the flora and fauna and improve the visitor experience. Funding of $100,000 a year for four years will have a significant impact on enhancing regional bushland.

7.   Develop Wireless Hill Reserve as a Significant Regional Site
Wireless Hill Reserve is a nationally significant regional park of cultural, historical, recreational and environmental importance, attracting visitors from across Perth as well as interstate and overseas. It was the site of one of Australia's first telecommunication stations built in 1912 with a 112m-high telecommunications mast, which used Morse Code to communicate with ships off the Australian coast. The station is now a telecommunications museum and the reserve features 41 hectares of banksia, eucalypt and jarrah woodland that is unique to Perth. The maintenance and development of the site has been a financial burden on the City of Melville over the years. With the Wireless Hill Centenary celebrations coming up in 2012, the City seeks $300,000 in financial assistance from the State Government to improve historical artefacts, control vermin and introduced species and to promote the centenary celebrations.

8.   Improve Rail Station Parking and Access
There is poor parking availability at the three local train stations servicing City of Melville residents, especially Canning Bridge where there is none. There is also a lack of awareness of options people have to access the train stations, including walking, cycling and buses. The State Government needs to increase the parking at Canning Bridge, Bull Creek and Murdoch stations by at least 25 per cent and educate the community about alternative options. Failure to increase parking will create a major amenity issue where people will be parking in adjoining streets, increasing traffic and noise and creating a safety hazard. The State Government must realise that limited car parking will also affect the viability of the Perth to Mandurah train service.

9.   Commit an extra $5 million a Year to Underground Power Program
The introduction of underground power in the metropolitan area is progressing too slowly and requires a doubling of the State Government commitment. There is still about 50 per cent of the City of Melville that doesn’t have underground power. Underground power brings safer and more secure power supplies with fewer power failures, particularly in winter months, and also creates more aesthetically pleasing streetscapes. The City of Melville area has felt the brunt of major storms in recent years and is another reason why power lines need to go underground. Expanding the existing underground power program by $5 million a year and providing for less rigidity in the guidelines will dramatically improve amenity. We would also like the State Government to explore other funding arrangements to decrease the financial burden on ratepayers who receive underground power.

10. Recognise the Importance of the Heathcote Cultural Precinct
Heathcote Cultural Precinct, situated on the site of the former Heathcote Mental Reception Home in Applecross, comprises heritage-listed buildings and public open space, and features a museum,  contemporary gallery, a Challenger TAFE campus, various community facilities, a restaurant  and one of the most popular and award-winning playgrounds in the metropolitan area. We are seeking a $1 million commitment from the State Government in the research, development and enhancement of the regional facility as a recreational, cultural, educational and environmental site of excellence.

11. Provide Access to Free Recreational Equipment
With obesity levels increasing among Australians, we believe the State Government should tackle the issue by funding the installation of free recreational equipment at parks and reserves, including those in the City of Melville. This would help to deal with health and obesity problems.

12. Review Redundant and Overlapping Legislation
The City of Melville, like other local councils, spends far too much money and time on dealing with compliance legislation, much of which is redundant and overlapping. There are some 517 Acts, regulations, etc that a local government has to abide by in its day-to-day activities. It is a bureaucratic burden that ties up Council resources and costs our ratepayers. As such, it is essential that the State Government addresses the issue by reviewing compliance legislation.

13. Protect the Local Government Rate Base
The State Government needs to review and amend its rules for non-rateable land to ensure that local governments can raise enough revenue to provide their many services and facilities and spread the costs evenly among property owners. Currently, facilities such as retirement villages, universities, hospitals and churches and some State-owned landholdings are exempt from paying rates, which means the average residential and commercial property owner has to pay higher rates.

14. Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Address Priority Issues
Following the elections, we would seek for the State Government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Melville, giving a commitment to address the 13 points above.

Mayor Aubrey said the local candidates must make a clear commitment to address the community concerns embedded in this plan. “The City of Melville will be willing to work in partnership with them to resolve these concerns when they are elected,” he said. “We need a much closer collaboration between local and State Government to find solutions to priority issues for the long-term betterment of our community,” he said.