For the trees – what’s left
WHY is it that whenever a change is needed, e.g. “more car parking”, the first thing to happen is that trees get knocked down.
The case in point is on the south side of South Fremantle High School where it fronts on to Annie Street.
Firstly, several years ago, two of the four huge casuarinas were removed from where they had successfully blocked the fierce summer sun from the gymnasium.
Second, more recently, all the trees and bushes were removed from near the school’s pool and nothing has replaced them.
Now, about two weeks ago, several beautiful mature casuarinas edging the driveway to the gym have been removed.
Now that whole large area is even more desolate and windswept than before. The only trees visible are a row of skinny gums on the verge, presumably planted by the council.
The north side of the school, on Lefroy Road, with its lovely mature trees, is now being carved up for new buildings.
Where is the commitment to increasing rather than decreasing green spaces by this supposedly “carbon-neutral” school? The back (south) side is important too!
Helen Sibree
Mather Road, Beaconsfield

Link resonated with voters
THERE is no doubt that Roe 8 and the Perth Freight Link resonated in the community during the election campaign, which is no surprise because we are engaged in a once-in-a-generation contest for our freight, transport, and environmental future (“PFL campaign debunked?” Herald, July 16, 2016).
As a candidate I argued consistently that we shouldn’t accept the waste and environmental damage of a truck freeway in the form of a privately operated toll road that abandons decades of planning for an Outer Harbour.
What’s more we can’t allow a critical public asset like Fremantle Port to be sold.
It’s important to note that I also campaigned in support of smart infrastructure like the Armadale/North Lake Rd bridge, which is needed to address acute congestion around Cockburn Central.
Considering the strong community views on both issues it was understandable that Labor received the largest positive swing in the electorate since 1998.
As Fremantle’s federal representative I will continue to press as hard as I can to stop the Roe 8/PFL project, and move instead towards smarter freight infrastructure, better environmental protection, and more public transport.
Josh Wilson
Federal Member for Fremantle

Sure-fire bug extermination
I READ the story about Paul and his termites (“March of neglect,” Herald, July 16, 2016).
It cost me quite a bit of money to resolve the termite issue I had at my last house.
Paul stated that he has had his pest controller do this and that and double up his treatments and so on.
It is my recommendation that Paul contract with another company. My treatment cost about $1000 dollars and I had two separate colonies to be eliminated.
Maybe go smoke a couple of cigarettes in the old rotten house and leave the burning butts. Nothing like an accidental arson to rid the house of termites.
Scott Petrill
Savannah Rd, Peachland
North Carolina

Scrap the DAP
I WAS pleased to read that councils are revolting against the state-controlled development assessment panels or DAPs.
But I was disappointed to find the City of Melville was not amongst those councils lobbying the government to abolish or at least review DAPs.
Currently, all developments worth $10 million or more are immediately referred to DAPs. However, in 2011 the state government changed the rules so developers can opt to go to the DAPs if their project  is worth between $2 million and $10 million.
This means most developments are potentially approved by DAPs so councils have very little power over the future shape of their communities.
With the government pushing for higher densities, more tower blocks will appear in our city. If we look at our neighbour, South Perth, we can see what our city will potentially look like in a few years.
So do we really want towering blocks of high rise buildings filling up our suburbs?
To prevent this, we need to contact our elected members to join the “Scrap the “DAP” movement of councils to ensure this worrying trend can be controlled or even halted.
Katy Mair
Booragoon
Ed’s note: Ms Mair is a former mayor of Melville