History repeats
YET another high-density enclave plagued by drugs and anti-social behaviour—history keeps repeating itself (“Tales of blood and bins,” Herald, July 4, 2015).
It seemed unfathomable to me when the City of Fremantle approved the development—it had already had a taste of what was to come at the newspaper house redevelopment.
In other shires Homeswest was undertaking demolition of high-density complexes due to the same issues but it was actively building new, more aesthetically pleasing boxes in Fremantle.
I raised my concerns at the planning stage and was told the tenants would be elderly and well-vetted and an onsite caretaker would be there to assist them.
I remarked “how do you vet people’s extended families with the failure rates of relationships and growing drug use? You have no control of who is staying in this complex.”
It seems my fears were right—Homeswest needs to step up and take control and the city needs to take note for future developments.
Michael Whitworth
Caribbean Dve, Safety Bay

Grass greener
CONGRATULATIONS to Gary Crawford and friends (“Kikuyu up the bum,” Herald, July 7, 2015). A huge effort to make councils accountable to their constituents. Perhaps now the same can apply to building developments and consultation with residents!
L Mckie
Bridges Rd, Melville

Princes of Denmark
WE have returned from Denmark, after a magnificent break.
We would like to thank both the Herald and the the Denmark Chamber of Commerce for giving us the opportunity to win this competition. Our trip to Denmark was the best break to win!
The trees, birds, and the quiet surroundings of our accommodation at the three locations, allowed us to see more of what Denmark really has to offer.
We have brought back several lots of brochures on Denmark to distribute amongst our friends and family. We have told them all about its sensational local organic produce, as well as the great variation of accommodation options available.
We found the staff and the business owners were all friendly and very helpful people.
Our two daughters are planning  to use their holiday breaks from work, along with their friends to experience the highlights that we have mentioned to them.
We hope this will assist the local community in a small way.
We would like you to pass our sincere gratitude to the local businesses, who made our stay in Denmark so enjoyable.
We look forward to our next visit to beautiful Denmark.
Marilyn and Norm Hunt
Coogee
The Ed says: What a lovely letter—thank you both.

Choice made
LOOKS like Mr CE Dortch submitted a rejoinder to my rejoinder (whatever a rejoinder is) (Herald letters, July 4, 2015).
He took one line from my letter, stated it implied something it did not. Then, quoted someone from “Harvard” to justify his rant. Since he remembers attending a Confederate veterans celebration he has to be an old codger so I won’t bust his chops too bad.
Good luck to you sir, you’ve heard the term—“love it or leave it”. We all know the choice you made. It turns out you are right at home with this issue along with the other boobs on last week’s front page.
Scott Petrill
Savannah Rd, Peachland
North Carolina

Sustaining contact
THANKS so much for publishing my picture of the kids in India at our shelter, with the news about the “Travel to Give Back” eco-sustainability journey we are doing in December.
Here’s the contact details if anyone wants to help give life-sustaining water to subsistence farmers suffering under crippling debt and lack of water for their crops. Call 0402 008 801 or visit http://tinyurl.com/p9undq3
Shazar Robinson

Holding Freo back
THE Thinking Allowed article by Don Whittington in last week’s Herald opposing the sale of Fremantle port is a load of absolute rubbish.
It is this kind of naive thinking that is holding back a brighter future for Fremantle. As a place to visit, do business and shop it is sad and bedraggled.
Mr Whittington expresses opinions as if he represents the whole community, opinions that are contradictory, fictitious, and misleading. For example, he claims revenue of $45 million on a value of $1.5 billion is healthy.
By selling the port for $1.5b the government would save more than that by reducing taxpayers’ debt or by investing in more productive infrastructure.
The anti-development stance of Mr Whittington continues with his tirade against the freight link project. How criminal it would be for the port to increase throughput, thus bringing prosperity to the sad and empty shops of the city. He goes on about the local community having some kind of input over how it is managed if it remains government-owned.
What that means it seems is that it consult with Mr Whittington. If that is the case then it would sensible to also consult with those who can offer a balanced view. If the city used its planners to do some planning then the new owner could very well be asked to help with improvements to the station and infrastructure upgrades.
On a positive note Mr Whittington concludes by conceding that consultation and binding agreements are needed if the sale is to proceed. All parties would be negligent if this was not done.
Richard Elsey
North Fremantle

Breast read
REALLY found the article “Never too nippy for a ride” (Herald, July 4, 2015) both amusing and refreshing.
Good on you girls for having the courage of your convictions and standing up for what you think is right. I too believe that if it’s alright for guys to display their nipples, then it is ok for girls to do likewise. Dare I say it, but it appears the girls are just staying abreast of the times and I thought it was titillating reading.
Steve Grady
Murray Rd, Palmyra

What renaissance?
TEN years ago more than $16 million of public money was used to build 100 apartments in Queen Victoria/Beach Street Fremantle, which was at the time touted and applauded as a benchmark for future state housing (Herald, July 4, 2015).
Since that time little or no money has been spent on maintenance or repairs, little or no notice has been taken when complaints were made, locally or to state housing in Perth, of anti-social behaviour, the sale and use of drugs, various criminal activities and lack of security at the complex.
State housing has continued to offer accommodation to people, despite being well aware of previous evictions of their history of serious rent arrears, property damage and anti-social behaviour. Mr Cash was perfectly correct when he states “99 per cent of residents in the complex live in perfectly harmony with their neighbours, it cannot however be denied that the one per cent can make life a living hell”.
I have a question for Fremantle’s mayor —how will people you hope will “spark a Renaissance in the East End”, who have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for  the apartments in Queen Victoria Street, and those you hope will buy the apartments being built in Beach Street, next to the Coldstore complex, feel when they read last week’s article? I would be interested in the mayor’s reply.
Bob Loftus
The Coldstores
Beach St, Fremantle

Who’s the rat?
I READ with cynicism the front-page story “Trio probed,” (Herald, July 4, 2015).
You stated the three councillors June Barton, Nick Pazolli and Susanne Taylor-Rees are often at odds with the council majority led by mayor Russell Aubrey.
Mr Aubrey, I thought elected councillors were elected by constituents to represent them? Perhaps the ”at odds” decisions were not in the interests of  the people they represent?
So because the trio can be a thorn in the side of the council is this why a former police detective, Brendon Peyton has been hired to “dig up some dirt” on the trio?
Again, being cynical.
This smacks of a witch hunt on the trio, and it looks like the best detective Peyton can come up with is that a courteous ratepayer bought Crs Barton and Taylor-Rees a cup of coffee and piece of cake that was worth less than the amount required to declare.
Mr Aubrey, I and probably the Melville ratepayers and readers of the Herald would like to know:
• who ratted on these hard-working councillors to start an investigation? Name them!
• how much did this very experienced detective—you certainly mean business—cost the Melville council?
• if this is all detective Peyton can find will you—as the mayor—issue a public apology to the trio mentioned? That is the least they deserve.
I believe the constituents who elected the trio should get behind them over this disgraceful waste of ratepayers’ money and let the council know the trio were elected to represent people even if it means ”being at odds with the council majority”.
We still live in a democracy, don’t we?
Gordon Hansom
Harvest Lakes Estate, Atwell

Fix your own hole, premier
ANY port in a storm of financial bad news is the Barnett government’s response to its irresponsible deficit spending.
My colleague on the port’s Inner Harbour Community Liaison Group, Don Whittington, has eloquently (Herald Thinking Allowed, July 4, 2015) stated the fears many will justifiably hold concerning the port’s proposed sell-off.
A proposal such as this demands a full and public impact analysis: economic, social and environmental. Given the buyer is likely to be an investment fund, the community needs to know how the government intends to protect the public interest and what the conditions of sale might be.
Fremantle should not have to bear the cost of the government’s budget repairs.
Gerard MacGill
Harvest Rd, North Fremantle

Paint the roads
IT is annoying to get a speeding fine when you watch the speed limit signs and speedo while driving. There are not enough signs on busy arterial roads where the speed limit changes consistently.
A truck in front of your vehicle can block out a road side speed sign and that is when the speed camera gets you. Stock Road is one road you have to be very careful on, as the speed limit changes consistently.
Suburban through-roads with a 50kph speed limit are another trap. One busy road that I use a lot is Preston Point Rd in East Fremantle that is 50kph;  Most drivers think it is a 60kph limit.
I think a better and cheaper remedy would be to paint more speed signs on the road surface, perhaps after roundabouts and at cross roads.
The motorist would have a better chance of knowing the limit. For the record, my last speeding fine was 20 years ago and that was because I was not aware the speed limit had changed.
Frank Granger
Melville Beach Rd,  Applecross