Petrol tanker blast investigation continues

as posted here

Posted Fri May 15, 2009 5:08pm AEST
Updated Sat May 16, 2009 10:58am AEST

Police evacuate parts of Maddington as petrol tanker explodes (Ben White)

Authorities are investigating the cause of a petrol tanker fire in the Perth suburb of Maddington.

A rupture in a compartment of the tanker sparked a blaze which burnt through about 15,000 litres of fuel.

The fire spread to a nearby petrol station and shop on Albany Highway, forcing the evacuation of people within 500 metres of the blaze.

Local roads were closed for up to 10 hours during the clean up.

That involved transferring the remaining fuel to a second tanker, pumping fuel out of drains which lead to the Canning River, and mopping up.

20 Fire and Emergency Service firefighters remained at the scene overnight.

FESA spokesman Alan Gale says the blaze caused a significant amount of damage.

"The damage certainly to the rear of the tanker itself is fairly substantial, but probably more so to the building," he said.

"All the front driveway and canopy is extensively damaged."

Mark Brunt works opposite the petrol station and saw the explosion.

"I went and got a bit closer and could see everyone was bailing out of the servo and some guy was yelling 'Get out, get out' and yeah, this fire was just taking off," he said.


as posted here

Daylight saving 'dead and buried' in WA

as posted here

Western Australia will not get daylight saving after voters rejected the idea in the fourth referendum on the issue, electoral commissioner Warwick Gately has declared.

When polls closed with 71 per cent of the vote counted, the "No" vote has maintained a 55.5 per cent to 44.5 cent lead over the "Yes" vote - a lead which could translate into the biggest "No" result in WA history.

Daylight saving campaigner Matt Birney declared the concept of daylight saving in WA "dead and buried".

The "No" vote has registered about 532,000 votes to 426,000 for "Yes".

The "No" vote fared strongly in regional areas and the outer suburbs of Perth, including Armadale, Swan Hills, Gosnells, Geraldton, Dawesville, Darling Range, Central Wheatbelt and Albany.

Perth's northern electorates such as Hillarys, Churchlands, Midarie and Carine flew the flag for daylight saving in what was ultimately a losing race.

WA Premier Colin Barnett said the result was clear.

"West Australians don't like daylight saving,'' he told ABC radio.

Nationals WA president Colin Holt, one of the leading campaigners for the "No" vote, was understandably thrilled with the result.

"We're very pleased with the result of course," he said. "But we were a little surprised by how strong the ("No") vote was in some of the city electorates."

He expected the regional areas to vote against daylight saving, and they delivered with flying colours.

"If you were away from the coast, people didn't like it," Mr Holt said.

"There were (only) three or four electorates away from the coast who were in favour (of daylight saving).

"Some of the big ones who were against it were Darling Range, Armadale and Forrestfield."

He said most of the people who lived well away from the coast thought daylight saving would not improve their lifestyle, considering they "could not go to the beach" after a day's work.

Earlier today, Mr Birney told WAtoday: "It seems we are a little bit ahead in metro Perth and a whole lot behind in the country and that's not really sustainable unfortunately.

"... We're encouraged by so many people voting yes, but the great shame is that it doesn't appear to be enough at this stage."

More than 1.3 million West Australians today flooded their local school or sports centre to cast their vote on daylight saving.

In the weeks leading up to today's vote, WA was gripped with debate in the workplace, on talkback radio, on trains and even inside households. But now the people have finally had their say on the issue that has split the state in half.

Three times already the push for daylight saving in WA has failed.

The first vote on daylight saving in 1975 saw 53.7 per cent of the population vote against it.

The WA Electoral Commission has had its hands full to cater for the masses today with the Fremantle by-election also taking place today following the retirement of stalwart Labor MP Jim McGinty.

In that battle, Labor candidate and former Fremantle mayor Peter Tagliaferri has locked horns with Adele Carles of the Greens for the seat vacated by former Labor Health Minister Jim McGinty.

Before today, about 72,000 electors have already had their say on the daylight saving vote via postal and early in-person voting.

"The daylight saving debate has been of high interest to the people of Western Australia in recent weeks ... ," Mr Gately said.

The Commission set up about 800 polling places across the state and recruited 5000 casual staff for the day.

Almost 1.8 million ballot papers for the referendum and 62,000 for the Fremantle by-election have been produced during the campaigns.

- with AAP


as posted here

Rehab for centre to aid addicts

as posted here


A Gosnells drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre run by the Salvation Army is to be expanded to accommodate a rapidly growing queue of desperate addicts.

The Harry Hunter centre is supposed to be able to cater for 45 clients at a time, but its capacity has been reduced because a house neighbouring the main accommodation block is in such a poor state of disrepair.

An agreement struck between the Salvos and builder Dale Alcock Homes has paved the way for the old house to be demolished and replaced with three units at a discounted rate. The centre will then accommodate 52 people and have separate sections for men and women for the first time.

Service manager Ken Smith said there were currently around 70 people waiting to be assessed and they faced a wait of up to two months to get into the centre.

“The longer the wait, the greater the risk of relapse and of moving back to their old environment and circle of influences,” he said.

The announcement of the project comes as the Salvation Army prepares for the start of its annual Red Shield doorknock appeal on May 18, for which Dale Alcock will be the major partner in WA.

To register as a volunteer or make a donation, phone 13 72 58 (13Salvos) or go online at www.salvation army.org.au

Donations can also be made at any Westpac or Bendigo Bank branch.

DAWN GIBSON

as posted here

Thank you to fire and SES volunteers

as posted here

Volunteers with the City of Gosnells Bush Fire Brigade and State Emergency Service (SES) were treated to a night off last Saturday night with a special thank you event.

Hosted by the City, the family sundowner at Orange Grove Oval acknowledged their great work.

It was also an opportunity for City of Gosnells Mayor Olwen Searle to honour some of the region’s longest-serving volunteers.

SES volunteer Joe Taylor was presented with the Clasp to the National Medal for his 25 years service while Gerry McCourt (SES) received the National Medal for 15 years’ service.

Recipients of the 10-year service medals were SES volunteers Shannon Taylor, Sonia Fixter and Mark Geary.

The Bush Fire Brigade’s Wayne Wendt was also awarded a 10-year service medal and Michael Battrick, Janet Battrick, and Allan Webster each received medals for five years of service.

Among the guests were Mayor Searle and several Councillors, the SES District Manager, Assistant Chief Operations Officer Metropolitan, Fire Services District Manager and Regional Director.

“It was very pleasing to see so many volunteers honoured for their years of dedicated service – it is vital that they know how much our community values their efforts,” the Mayor said.

For information about volunteering in fire or emergency services, contact the City’s
Risk and Emergency Management Coordinator and Chief Bush Fire Control Officer on 9391 3353 or email rwallington@gosnells.wa.gov.au.

Ends








as posted here

Road construction projects – May 2009

as posted here


Road construction and rehabilitation, drainage works and path construction are among the main works in the City of Gosnells during May. Specific jobs include:

Canning Vale
Ranford Road – road and drainage works
Comrie Road Basin – installation of drainage

Gosnells
Gerald Street (from Astley Street to Albany Highway) – path construction
Hotham Way ( Fortescue Bend to existing) – path construction

Kenwick
Victoria Road and Bickley Road intersection – road rehabilitation

Maddington
Alcock Street and Flax Street – roundabout construction
Rayne Street (Westfield Street to Hilton Crescent) – path construction and kerb replacement
Burslem Drive (Albany Highway to Olga Road) – road rehabilitation on hold

Southern River
Warton Road – Stage 1 of dual carriageway between Nolan Way and Ranford
Road

Thornlie
Walter Padbury parking – landscaping and paths
Tom Bateman Reserve – landscaping and paths
Lakeside Drive – drainage installation by contractors
Hunt Street (Thornlie Avenue to Berehaven Avenue) – road rehabilitation
Ovens Road and Murdoch Drive intersection – road rehabilitation

Miscellaneous works by contractors
Garden Street – minor works and streetlighting
Amherst Road and Daniel Drive – linemarking
Spencer Road (service road) – minor works and linemarking

Ends

as posted here

Wards set to go

as posted here

Wards in the City of Gosnells are set to be abolished - bringing an end to the old system where voters elected councillors in a particular ward - Bickley, Canning Vale or Gosnells.

If the Local Government Advisory Board accepts a Council proposal, voters will now select candidates on a City-wide basis at the next election.

Under the old system, candidates stood for available seats in one of the three wards, with two councillors in each area up for re-election every two years. The two winners in each ward were elected to Council.

Under the new system, half-a-dozen seats will be contested City-wide every two years and the top six in the poll will be elected, regardless of which area they come from within the City.

The decision to abolish wards was based on recommendations from independent consultants engaged by the City to assist with a mandatory review of wards and councillor numbers.

Chief Executive Officer Ian Cowie said that if adopted, the new system would help avoid costly by-elections and would avoid the need for ongoing ward boundary reviews, as the City grows rapidly.

“The City has had three extraordinary elections since 2001 under the ward system and this is a costly exercise. Under the new system, an extraordinary election will not be required so long as 80 per cent of positions on Council remain filled,” Mr Cowie said.

“There is also a complete misconception at times that councillors represent their wards, when in fact they work extremely hard for all ratepayers in the City. The removal of ward boundaries helps to reinforce that their efforts are on behalf of all residents.

“It gives people access to a dozen hard working local representatives working for the betterment of the City as a whole.”

Elected Members voted to retain 12 positions on Council.


as posted here