Refreshing and realistic
MARTIN LEE’S Thinking Allowed (Herald, November 7, 2015) was the most refreshingly balanced article we have seen published in recent times, giving a realistic appraisal of factors affecting the future port development, both in Cockburn Sound and the inner harbour.
Devoid of the politically motivated hysterics of Senator Scott Ludlam and his Green nimby rent-a-crowd — which seem based on an unattainable utopian existence — the writer managed to present a credible appraisal of the current and future rail and road freight requirements of the community.
By jeopardising funding for Roe 8 and a new rail and road link to the existing container terminal, possibly along the original bypass route, they are creating a massive problem for future generations.
DB & WK Binning
Norton Ridge, Winthrop

Rethink needed
MARTIN LEE’S Thinking Allowed was problematic on a number of counts.
Martin blames the Barnett government for the poor handling of the Perth Freight Link. In reality the Abbott government hung this project around the WA government neck like a dead albatross.
Why is Barnett still clinging to the PFL when Main Roads has not acquired all the land necessary for Roe 8, nor completed amendments to the Metropolitan Regional Scheme as required by the Environmental Protection Authority?
The federal minister Jamie Briggs is bullying the WA government over the PFL, a behaviour that so endeared Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott to the Australian people.
With regard to moving more containers by rail, Martin states “Perth just isn’t set up for a magical rail solution …”. He is ignoring the fact the grain terminal at Kwinana is already serviced by rail and WA farmers want to keep this viable. They would also prefer that animal exports go through Kwinana.
Martin implies the proposed alternative truck routes to Kwinana will cut through the Spectacles Wetlands in Anketell. The proposed routes to Kwinana can follow either Anketell or Rowley Roads: neither goes through wetlands and both directly link to the freeway. This can be easily verified by examining a street directory.
Other capital cities around Australia have relocated container ports and facilities away from their original harbours and this is now overdue in Perth. The Barnett government needs to step back from the PFL and carefully and honestly examine the alternatives, without being pressured by outdated doctrines from the Abbott legacy. In short, “Rethink The Link”.
Robert Dobson
Stevens St, White Gum Valley

Yap, keep it up
I AM writing to congratulate Cockburn city council and its rangers with regard to their dogs-on-lead policy, which has become more apparent over recent months in Manning Park following the erection of the signs at both entrances to the park.
It is now a pleasure to walk in the park without so many dogs racing around, spoiling the tranquillity and disturbing the wildlife.
Since the recent completion of the steps there are so many more people exercising and enjoying what the park has to offer, especially now that there is less dog faeces, which was a problem before because owners failed to pick up after their pets. It’s lovely to see so many young families enjoying the area too.
I personally have had a number of traumatic incidents involving dogs in the park and have only recently returned, and I welcome the change.
Of course, there are still those who ignore the rules and allow their dogs off-lead, which is annoying at times but I expect the rangers will continue to deal with the problem. If dog owners want their dogs to run free there are plenty of dog beaches where they can do just that.
Jackie Gray
Leaside Way, Spearwood

Start the harbour
I AM responding to Daryl Binning’s letter (Herald, November 7, 2015) on the deletion of the Fremantle bypass by Alannah MacTiernan in 1992.
At enormous cost to the community and the state’s coffers, the Fremantle eastern bypass design of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s would not have solved today’s traffic problems.  The Perth Freight Link will not solve the traffic problems of today or tomorrow at far greater cost. Invest the money wisely — start on the outer harbour now.
Don Whittington
Shuffrey St, Fremantle

Best ticket ever
I WAS part of the Fremantle Festival Parade on Sunday and parked sort of illegally on Marine Terrace to get there on time, (safely but on the verge, as had several others).
We had a great time and ended up dancing in Kings Square and enjoying the community atmosphere.
Upon returning to my car we found a parking ticket under the wipers. It felt a little mean spirited of the council to be fining people on festival parade day — until I found the penalty was $0.00.
Thanks to the council for a great festival and the best parking ticket I have ever received.
Robert McCulloch
Snook Crescent, Hilton

Enough is enough
MAY I be allowed to respond as a “heartless” reader as per contributor Stewart Smith (“Heartless,” Herald letters, October 17, 2015).
I still believe we have no business, let alone it being in the national interest, to be involved in illegal wars in the near and Middle-East countries. It is their responsibility to sort out religious, ethnical or tribal differences.
To claim in 2015 that it was all the fault of Western colonial powers of the 19th and 20th centuries, is a wee bit far-fetched. They were making up the borders.
To continue this line of thought I would like to mention another “basket case” called Africa. Its ill-conceived, individual borders were set by the old colonials like Belgium, Portugal, France, Germany, Great Britain Italy and Holland.
Therefore, the thousands of Africans crossing the Mediterranean now across to Lampedusa and Sicily into Italy should be received with open arms and heart. Somebody is unreal here. The increasing trends of demonstration in European countries with placards stating “enough is enough” indicates a very different perception and opinion by ordinary folks, the electorate, in those countries.
O Mueller
Windelya Rd, Murdoch

End the squeeze
MARTIN LEE’S Thinking Allowed (Herald, November 7, 2015) suggests the Perth Freight Link (PFL) may be preferable to the outer harbour.
He suggests the PFL should end with a tunnel under the river, coming out in Leighton rail yards with a spur into the port which would remove 68,000 vehicles per day from North Fremantle.
This raises a few questions. Is he expecting that Stirling Bridge is just closed? Has he solved the question of how heavy trucks go under a deep part of the river and come straight up a steep hill into the port? Seems like a Greenmount in Freo.
The outer harbour has been planned for some time and most of the issues he raises about wetlands can be averted: there is plenty of room and the road reserves avoid them.
The filling in of Cockburn Sound can be avoided also, by using land-based facilities that are available. We just need to get a serious planning process underway and redirect the PFL funding to road and rail links to the outer harbour.
It is not appropriate to continue trying to squeeze more trucks into the constrained sailing ship site of the inner harbour.
Peter Newman and Cole
Hendrigan
Authors, Perth Freight Link report for City of Fremantle
Kent St, Bentley

Remember your humanity
A 16-year-old boy in a school uniform sits on the path shaking and distressed. No-one stops to help. He gets home but he can’t remember how he got there.
He wasn’t drunk or on other drugs. He has a mental illness and he needed help.
I passed a woman in great distress today but was hesitant and a bit frightened to approach her. I did go straight to the police station and asked them to go and help her, and they did so immediately.
My son mentioned he’d also asked a police officer to help a woman he had seen today. It turned out to be the same woman. He was the 16-year-old who’d needed help later in the day.
I know it can be scary and unpleasant, but do something, not nothing. One day it could be your son, or you. This is what a civilised society does.  This is called humanity. It reflects on all of us and we all reflect on it.
Name and address supplied
East Fremantle

Lost customer
I READ your story about the brothel closing, moving or whatever it is doing (Herald, October 31, 2015).
You reported it had been servicing US sailors and locals for years.
I arrived in Fremantle in June 1984 with the USS Kitty Hawk battle group. As soon as we hit dry land we went straight to the Fremantle Hotel and started drinking in the bar.
We did some fun stuff, saw Bon Scott’s memorial at the cemetery and went to some of the clubs in Perth. At no time did anyone mention the existence of the brothel.
No word of mouth, no advertising no nothing. I can say I would have been a customer had I known.
I hope if they relocate they will be more visible and advertise so others will not experience the misery of missing out on it, as I had all those years ago.
Scott Petrill
Savannah Rd, Peachland,
North Carolina

Respect free speech
TO the person removing the anti-Roe 8 signs around Bibra Lake — you are entitled to your views and your stance on this issue, but that does not give you the right to tear down and steal these signs.
We respect your views, please respect ours. This campaign is for the benefit of the community at large, those who do not want to see our precious wetlands dissected by an ugly and noisy highway.
You may not realise it, but the signs you are damaging and stealing are the property of the City of Cockburn. Think about it.
Rex Sallur
Corn Way Bibra Lake