• Jon Strachan and Adin Lang are into cross-border friendships. Photo by Steve Grant

NEXT month’s elections could herald a renaissance for local government, predicts Fremantle councillor Jon Strachan.

Cr Strachan, who’s re-contesting south ward, says the Barnett government’s failed amalgamation process may have left a few bruises, but it’s paved the way for a new era of co-operation and engagement as people take more interest in their council.

His comments are backed by the fact that for the first time in years, nearly every ward in the region will be contested by a field of candidates (neighbouring East Fremantle the exception).

To prove his point, he’s formed a cross-border alliance with Adin Lang, who’s taking on veteran councillor Carol Reeve-Fowkes in Cockburn’s west ward.

The pair say they want to work together to extend Fremantle’s Green Plan to take in Cockburn.
Currently it stops at Clontarf Hill, but Mr Lang (who founded the Friends of Hollis Park in South Freo) says it makes sense to include Manning Park and then the Beeliar wetlands, creating a green corridor that protects native vegetation and allows fauna to frolic more safely.

They also want to work together to tackle traffic issues arising from the Cockburn Coast development.
Mr Lang says he’s already taking calls from South Beach Estate residents pleading for help to stop rat-runners and improve access onto Cockburn Road, where motorists often have to wait up to five minutes to turn because of the increasing volume of traffic.

Cr Strachan claims Main Roads doesn’t have a solution and reckons it will become intolerable once the Shoreline development trucks in several thousand new residents.

He says at a meeting last week, representatives from Main Roads had said a planned realignment and widening of Cockburn Road along the ridge beside Manning Park had been dropped because of environmental concerns raised by the community.

But when the Chook asked Main Roads to confirm if that was the case, public relations coordinator Celena Chamoun said no decision had been made. “Main Roads has met with stakeholders, including local government representatives regarding the upgrade of Cockburn Road to two lanes in bother directions,” she said.

by STEVE GRANT