This is the personal blog of Ian Ker, who was Councillor for the South Ward of the Town of Vincent from 1995 to 2009. I have been a resident of this area since 1985. This blog was originally conceived as a way of letting residents of Vincent know what I have been doing and sharing thoughts on important issues. I can now use it to sound off about things that concern me.

If you want to contact me, my e-mail is still ian_ker@hotmail.com or post a comment on this blog.

To post a comment on this blog, select the individual post on which you wish to comment, by clicking on the title in the post or in the list to the left of the blog, and scroll down to the 'Post a Comment' box at the foot.

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Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Mary Street Trees: My Requests To Vincent Council

Tuesday 19th September.

I took the opportunity to address Vincent Council about what happened to the Mary Street trees and the need to ensure there is no recurrence either there or in respect of any other Trees of Significance in Vincent.

I'll be keeping an eye on this issue, hoping that Vincent Council will follow up.

A few weeks ago, City of Vincent contractor, Beaver Tree Services, severely cut back five of the Hills Weeping Fig trees at the William Street end of Mary Street

I have been informed that the work carried out went far beyond what was approved on the basis of “normal tree maintenance”.

This has totally changed the aesthetics of this highly-valued treescape, probably permanently. Instead of welcoming shade when turning into Mary Street in summer, people will still feel the full force of the sun.

I understand that the works were carried out at the request of the adjoining property owner on the basis that: the trees were encroaching over the property and roof of their buildings and continuously depositing leaf debris in their gutters.

This, in itself, sets a dangerous precedent for Mary Street, as almost every property owner could probably make a similar claim.

Indeed, I recall that when I was on Council we had a similar type of problem with root invasion from the Mary Street trees that could have resulted in compromising the integrity of the streetscape. This was resolved by Council carefully considering a range of options for the whole street, rather than simply responding to the initial request in isolation.

The CEO has assured me that the City’s staff followed Council policies on Street Trees and Trees of Significance. I am not doubting this was so, but what happened to the Mary Street trees demonstrates an urgent need for improvement of those policies, including:

1.    More effective requirement to ensure that contractors do not start work on trees of significance without supervision by Vincent staff.

2.    Penalties for non-compliance with the Street Trees and Trees of Significance policies.

3.    Development of specific management plans for each of the four listed street treescapes: Mabel Street, Mary Street, Money Street and Monger Street.

4.    Requiring that external requests for works on any Trees of Significance be notified to Council, with an officer report on actions to be taken, so that elected members are
(a) informed; and
(b) have the opportunity to require further consideration, including community consultation, before the works are carried out.

In addition, I request that:

1.    The Mary Street treescape be nominated for inclusion on the WA State Heritage Register. There are currently 20 trees or groups of trees on the register and the heritage values of the Mary Street trees are enhanced by the proximity of the Sacred Heart group of buildings that are also on the State Heritage Register.

2.    Where substantial limbs are removed from trees, alternatives to re-use the timber, rather than simply chipping the ‘prunings’, be investigated.

3.    Council and the community be advised of what action is taken against the contractor.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Back To The Past With Michael Sutherland

Perth City Council candidate (and rejected former Mt Lawley MLA) Michael Sutherland wants to take the City of Perth back to the 1990s, when it paraded the slogan "Your car is as welcome as you are".


I truly thought we had got past this sort of idiocy long ago, with inner cities focussing on walking, cycling and public transport, instead of creating yet more traffic congestion by encouraging people to drive to the central city.

Sure, no one likes to pay for parking - witness the number of Perth city commuters who park on my street every day and walk or get a cheap (2-section fare) bus into the city.

But what we have to realise is that car use is not costless (to the driver (self-evident), to other drivers or to the community) and nor is parking.

In peak periods in Perth, every additional driver on the roads imposes congestion costs on other drivers that are even greater than that driver's cost of using the car. On top of that, there are the costs of air pollution, climate change and social impacts - such as community severance by heavy traffic, with which inner urban residents like me are are only too familiar.

Nor is car parking costless, especially in central cities where land costs are very high. Where parking is free to the user (such as at suburban shopping centres), the cost is paid for by businesses (through council rates and/or lease rentals) and ultimately is factored into the prices paid by consumers. The critical difference, where car parkers don't pay directly, is that everyone pays, whether they get there by car and use the parking provided or not.

Public transport to Perth city has never been better - and current proposals for its development will make it even more so - so why, oh why, would we want to turn back the clock 20 years or more and turn the city into a traffic sewer once again.

Monday, September 11, 2017

Reflections For 'Christians' Opposed to Same-Sex Marriage

From the UK, but so so relevant to the Australian alt-right right now. Couldn't have put it better myself.

NOT Michael Sutherland for Perth

I am reminded by former Mt Lawley MLA, Michael Sutherland, standing for City of Perth Council that he once said to my daughter about me (when I was (successfully) campaigning against Barnett's local government so-called reform), that it would be better if I went away and played bowls. 

I might say the same about him, but that would be an insult to all those (young as well as old) who enjoy playing bowls - which obviously didn't bother Sutherland when he was suggesting that I "go away" and do so.

On the subject of insults (this time to electors of the City of Perth), what about truth in political advertising? 

Truth in Advertising: An Independent Voice?

Sutherland spruiks himself as "an independent voice", but he was a Liberal MLA before the last WA election and just a couple of months ago was seeking to be replacement Liberal senator for Chris Back who retired for family reasons. The fact that he invited Peta Credlin, the former chief of staff for ousted Liberal leader Tony Abbot, to Perth for a fundraiser at his Mt Lawley branch (http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/former-wa-liberal-doesnt-believe-peta-credlin-invite-will-damage-his-senate-bid-20170705-gx59ua.html) should tell us something about where he sits in the Liberal Party spectrum.


Unlike his inner city counterpart, Eleni Evangel (MLA for Perth, 2013-2017), Sutherland did not distance himself from the Liberal-One Nation preference deal. Whereas Ms Evangel said: "I do not support One Nation or their policies" and she had “no time whatsoever for intolerance or discrimination of any form". All Michael Sutherland is reported as saying was that he "did not believe the deal alienated voters". [http://www.communitynews.com.au/guardian-express/news/mt-lawley-and-perth-liberal-members-have-differing-views-on-preference-deal-with-one-nation]

Truth in Advertising: Will The Real Michael Sutherland Show Himself?

I don't normally comment on people's appearance (being no picture of sartorial elegance, myself), but, while on the subject of lack of truth in political advertising, compare the picture Sutherland is using for his facebook page (which appears to be the one used for lord knows how long while he was an MLA) with the reality revealed in his diatribe about homeless (mainly aboriginal) people and Wellington Square.



Friday, September 8, 2017

Contractor's 'Error' - But Vincent Policy and Practice Must Be Better

Thanks to the Perth Voice for its coverage of the Mary Street tree mutilation (below) and to Mayor Emma Cole and Vincent CEO, Len Kosova, for their detailed responses to me on matters I raised in emails with them.

However, I am less sanguine than Mr Kosova about the adequacy of Vincent's policies to prevent recurrence, especially as they appear to give property owners the right to have trees pruned up to the property boundary without having to provide any reasons for doing so - I understand that the Mary Street pruning was approved on the basis that the trees overhung one property and deposited leaves in the gutters.

Incidentally, if the 'problem' was essentially one of leaves in the gutters, surely it would be more cost-effective to install good leaf-guard in the gutters.

Whilst pruning to the property boundary might not be a problem in typical streetscapes, with smaller and spaced-out trees, exceptional treescapes, like Mary Street require greater protection.


I sincerely hope the City assesses its option with regard to the contractor, including the potential for seeking damages and removing this contractor from the City's preferred contractor list, but nothing can remediate the mutilation. 

It is essential that Council take steps to minimise the potential for recurrence. With this in mind, I shall be requesting Council to:
a) Put an immediate ban on any works on the Mary Street trees, unless clearly and demonstrably required for safety purposes, until such time as the issues leading to the recent mutilation have been adequately addressed.
b) Develop a specific management plan for the Mary Street trees, recognising the importance of maintaining the appearance of the streetscape as well as the health of individual trees. 
c) Nominate the Mary Street treescape for inclusion on the State Heritage Register - there are already 20 trees or groups of trees on the Register. 

The current Street Trees policy (2.1.2) does not adequately address the Mary Street situation - for example, it appears to grant an unqualified right to property line pruning (Clause 4), which is not appropriate where such pruning might adversely affect the value and amenity of the rest of the treescape.
https://perthvoiceinteractive.com/2017/09/08/what-a-fig-up



Monday, September 4, 2017

Mary Street Trees: Judge for yourself what has been lost

I've been searching for a 'before' picture to compare with mine of the devastated Mary Street trees - not easy, as most people take pics under the cooling canopy of the trees.

However, Google Maps (street view) to the rescue, albeit with some camera distortion, with a picture taken in March this year.

So, just ignore the Water Corporation's contractor's workers (who were, for once, on-site and actually working) and judge for yourself what has been lost - what are now the 'twin-peaks' just in from the left about 1/6 were previously 1/3 of the way in from the left.

To put it in simple terms, 15% of the canopy width has been lost. There has also been substantial loss of material from the lower levels of the trees.

The pictures also seem to indicate that the pruning the southern side of Mary Street at the William Street end has been more severe than was apparent from the visible cut marks.
Source: Google Maps, Street View.


More on Mary Street Trees

Lunchtime on Monday 4th September - and no response (not even an acknowledgment) from elected members of Council (with the honourable exception of Cr Matt Buckels and, today, Cr Dan Loden (1pm) and Cr Jonathan Hallett (3.30pm)) nor the City's Administration.

Since the previous post (http://ianrker-vincent.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/mary-street-trees-butchered.html) a bit more research has revealed that the city of Vincent reviewed its Significant Tree Inventory in 2013. It's consultant's review was unanimously adopted by Council on 5th November 2013.

On Mary Street, the consultant's recommendation was: "Monitor the sunscald injury for the trees on the south side and the production of reparative tissue to close the wounds. Consideration should be given to minor crown lifting to improve clearance for high vehicles."

No mention here of any problems with the trees that would merit even consideration of drastic reduction of any of the trees such as is now all too painfully obvious at the William Street end of Mary Street. Note the 'before' picture in the consultant's report (below) and the current, post-vandalism view.

NOTE: This post was amended 4pm Monday 4th September to acknowledge the response of Cr Dan Loden and Cr Jonathan Hallett.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Mary Street Trees Butchered

Mary Street is one of Vincent's iconic streets, with heritage buildings and heritage trees that give it a unique ambience.

Why, then, have five of the trees on the northern side, at the William Street end, been butchered, totally changing the look of the street - not to mention removing welcoming shade in summer? 

It is noticeable that these five trees are alongside just one property. If this tree vandalism has been undertaken at the behest of the owners of that property, this sets a very disturbing precedent.


In addition, this appears to be contrary to the spirit, and probably the letter, of the 2014 Vincent Greening Plan, especially that part dealing with enhancement and management of tree canopy. The Greening Plan shows Mary Street as being comparable to parks and reserves in its contribution to vegetation cover. 
Given the importance and value of Mary Street, and the magnitude of the intervention, it is strange that I can find no mention in Council Minutes of any works being required nor the reasons why they might be. 

To make matters worse, there is no evidence of the trees or the substantial limbs removed being diseased in any way. 



I am, of course, assuming that the works were actually carried out by or for the City of Vincent. If I am wrong, I apologise to Council and staff - but then the proverbial book should be thrown at whoever WAS responsible for this vandalism.