Just Two Days Later…

Only two days after my drawing attention to the sinister implications of being able to build houses and (yes!) hotels on the Swan River (as well as Kings Park and other iconic Perth locations) in the new WA version of monopoly, it's already happening.

Not a 'floating hotel' perhaps, but certainly one that sits out over the water.

And who now speaks for the interests of the river? Well, six months ago when the previous application was rejected, it was the Swan River Trust. Less than a week ago, it was reported that the SRT was being abolished and absorbed into a new parks and wildlife department.

Interestingly (in the sense of the ancient Chinese curse - "may you live in interesting times"), whereas both a public service department and the Trust are/were subject to direction by their minister, the Trust had to publish any such directions in its Annual Report. You don't often see a government department publicise the fact that it had been directed by its Minister to make a contentious decision.