Give us Freo
ONE of the amalgamation issues which has not been canvassed is how many ratepayers are in favour of re-arranging the boundaries of the different local government bodies.
Not everyone’s happy with their council—in Cockburn the mayor and councillors may respond to information requests from ratepayers, however their interests are totally overlooked in favour of large developments promising to rake in extra rates.
An example inflicted on Cockburn ratepayers is a large development on Rollinson Road. The size was increased dramatically without the developer or council making any effort to inform the neighbours.
It is also an ugly development not at all in keeping with the surrounding area.
If your average homeowner asks to use face brick in their houses they are refused as a matter of course, but this development is over 50 per cent face brick of an amazingly ugly finish.
Other ratepayers I have spoken to would much rather be part of the City of Fremantle. We may have common sense applied to the naming of this local area. It is currently called North Coogee. A common question is “Where is North Coogee?”. It should have been left as South Beach. The answer to the previous question is always “It was once South Beach” and the answer is always understood.
GAD Clarkson
Breaksea Drive, North Coogee

Island solution?
HERE’S a very apt quote from an article in the Fremantle Herald: “If we will be taught by the testimony of all past history, this much is certain—the most effective way to make men cruel is to place them in absolute authority over helpless prisoners hidden from view.”
The kicker? This was from an article published in the Fremantle Herald of 1875 entitled  ‘Rottnest: Native Paradise or Black Man’s Grave’.
Here’s is a little more of the article: “Rottnest … is called the “Black Man’s Grave”, and may not after all be such a delightful spot in which to pass an idle hour as one might fancy. It is indeed a place of painful memories. Still we think it ought not be a sealed island and that they who wish to see what Rottnest really is and how things are done there should have no obstacle thrown in their way.”
Conclusions? The seeds of fascism, brutality and cruelty—and the habit of locking up innocent people on islands—is not something ‘foreign’ to Australian values. Rather, it has been a part of our history from the beginning of European arrivals on this continent.
On the other hand (like the hope at the bottom of Pandora’s Box of troubles) I also see that dissenting voices and resistance have also been here since the beginning. Take heart, people, the struggle is long but we can work to make sure that justice and compassion prevail and become truly Australian values.
Dr Liana Joy Christensen
Snook Cres, Hilton
P.S. The Fremantle Herald: kicking arse since 1875.

The real negativity
THE gargantuan elephant in the parlour explaining Fremantle’s prolonged and increasing depressingly empty shops is the great Aussie factor of ‘negative gearing’.
Many, probably most of Fremantle’s landlords, can easily sit back and let their commercial properties remain untenanted year after year. After all, this is the Aussie way! Until the tax rules for commercial holdings are modified, CBD Fremantle will remain ‘Dudsville’.
Getting the Aussie Federal government to modify tax laws stream-lining negative gearing is about as likely as getting those charming and deeply caring politicians and senior public servants to admit that global warming is upon us.
C E Dortch
Howard St, Fremantle

No barrier to having fun
MY wife and I went for a swim at Coogee Beach last Sunday morning (January 19). I was curious to check out the new Shark barrier.  What a brilliant idea! We both felt completely relaxed and could totally enjoy our swim inside the enclosure!
There was talk about building an ocean swimming pool at Bathers Beach, one of these shark barriers would be a much better option, think of all the extra business that it would create if people had a safe beach to swim at (and have fish and chips at the beach).
Why not take it further, we could erect floodlights at the beach and enjoy safe night swimming (Cottesloe Beach has floodlights)!
I realize that we cannot protect everyone like surfers and divers, but Colin Barnett’s crazy idea of “catch and kill’’ will not guarantee 100 per cent safety.
I take my hat off to the city of Cockburn for erecting this barrier, which shows that there is a way to swim safely in the ocean without having to slaughter sharks.
Geoff Stainton
Butler Street, Willagee

A right turn
YES Carl Payne has many good points in his article regarding the Main Roads handling of the problems associated with the widening of High Street and Stirling Highway (“A knee-jerk stuff-up,” Herald, January 18, 2014).
The problem at Marmion Street and Stirling Highway could be fixed in a day by making the right lane turn right, the centre lane turn right and forward, and the left land just forward.
The other lane is already dedicated to turning left onto Stirling Highway heading toward High Street. It would take a little paint to paint on right arrows and forward arrows in the intersection. Taking back the verge butting out by 30cm at the corner of Marmion and Montreal, would alleviate the problem of people trying to turn onto Marmion Street from Montreal.
But hey this doesn’t cost anything does it, just a few hours’ work overnight and it would be ready for the next morning.  But then Main Roads has never been forward thinkers, just too friendly with trucking companies and the like at the expense of the greater community.
The money that is wasted and the madness that is foisted on the community is beyond belief.
What we need now are some planners and thinkers with foresight and insight to be able to take us into the future, not a year or two ahead, and then find we are up for billions again to fix their mock-ups of planning.
If they could only envision a see-through elevator system high above the ground through Marmion Street, to Fremantle with two seats on the side, and an elevator for those who wish to walk, run or move their bikes on all the way through. Just think we would probably catch up a little with other smart places in the world.
Yet here we have a government bent on bigger roads and more trucks on those roads creating noise, dust, and many health problems to come.  We ask for the governments we get because of our own lack of insight.
Coralie Clarke
Forrest Street, Fremantle

Stroke of luck
I SHOULD like to express my thanks and appreciation to the good Samaritans who came to my aid when I suffered a stroke-like condition in my van at the junction of Swanbourne Road and Canning highway around 9.30am on Monday last week.
A husband and wife couple helped me from my vehicle and took me to Fremantle Hospital in their car and a young guy on a bike drove my van down to the hospital and parked it for me.
These were acts of kindness in a world where sometimes it seems only bad things happen.
To you three kind strangers my sincere thanks.
Derrick Twiggs
Kitchener Rd, Alfred Cove

I’m not a threat
I refer to the article “Mayor defends failed VRO” (Herald, January 11, 2014). In the article Mr Aubrey is quoted as stating that I have “agreed to maintain medication and seek counselling”.
This is not correct; There was no discussion, agreement, requirement or direction of the magistrates court or otherwise requiring me to maintain medication or seek counselling. It is entirely inappropriate and reprehensible to make such a claim.
It would seem that Mr Aubrey is attempting to absolve himself from the consequences of his choices and actions and is attempting to re-try in the media, post-trial, his failed attempt to place a violence restraining order against me. I will not re-try the case, but I will continue to correct incorrect statements.
The fact remains that magistrate Greg Smith found that:
“There never was a threat to assault or to cause physical harm to the mayor” and that any fear which Mr Aubrey may hold as to the future is not “a reasonable fear”.
Mr Smith cancelled the interim VRO and further rejected Mr Aubrey’s lawyer’s submission for the magistrate to instead apply a misbehaviour restraining order.
In light of the above, it would come as no surprise that all of his recent claims of bullying and threats are unsubstantiated.
I continue on council to support and promote the interests and views of the City of Melville’s ratepayers and will continue to support minimal rates increases,
councillors’ freedom of speech and low risk investment of ratepayers’ funds.
Nick Pazolli
Mt Pleasant

Fes up
It is always great to read about Morocco, my country of birth, so thanks for the article “Modern Moroccan” (Herald, January 18, 2014).
However there is an inaccuracy. Fez is the traditional headdress of Chechia. US geographers often mistake it for Fès the holy city. I know it well. I was born in Kasba Tadla, between Fès and Marrakech with its scented vats.
Sorry to hear about the lack of choices experienced by the Herald. Usually back in Morocco or France, the customer doesn’t pick and choose.
Marc Caillot
Arundel Street, Fremantle