Thursday 11 February 2010

Plan provokes walk-out

as posted here


Plan provokes walk-out

30/Jan/2010
Comments:
KALAMUNDA Council officers are sorting through more than a thousand submissions on a proposal to amend the local planning scheme to allow an aged care facility to be developed in Wattle Grove.
Kalamunda chief executive James Trail said assessing the responses would “take considerable time”, with no official deadline.
Shire officers will use the collated responses to develop a recommendation on whether the land should be rezoned, which Council will vote upon before making a recommendation to the Planning Minister.
“There is no right of reply and they (residents) can’t go to the State Administrative Tribunal as it is ultimately a council decision on zoning,” Mr Trail said.
He said it would be “inappropriate” to disclose whether most of the respondents supported or opposed the amendment, or the controversial development it would accommodate on Gavour Road.
But residents in the Wattle Grove Action Group said they were proceeding with plans to secede from the Shire.
Group spokesman Clive Garnham said he could see only risk in remaining with the Shire and little in joining the City of Gosnells – even if rates were to increase slightly as a result.
“We have a very strong case for secession and will easily get 10 times the minimum number of signatures required, so will present a virtually unanimous front to the Local Government Advisory Panel,” he said.
“We have more in common, topographically and demographically, with our neighbours in Orange Grove and other parts of Gosnells than with anyone in our own local government, which is one of the criteria.”
But some Wattle Grove residents remain apathetic, according to one who refused to be named for fear of reprisal.
“At neighbourhood barbecues people say they just do not care and some of us have elderly relatives who would like to move into such an aged care facility here,” he said.



as posted here

Monday 8 February 2010

No Future for Acorn Theatre

as posted here


No Future for Acorn Theatre

Kimberley Shaw reports on the demise of "The Smallest Theatre in the Southern Hemisphere."
At their Annual General Meeting on 3rd February it was decided that Perth’s Acorn Theatre, formerly the Smallest Theatre in the World, would close.
Former member Sharon Mobilia said, “It was voted at Wednesday night’s AGM to close Acorn Theatre. There are not enough willing motivated members left to run the theatre as a traveling concern. A sad day as another community theatre says goodbye.”
The Acorn Community Theatre was founded in 1987 by Rosemarie Butler, Mary-Lyn Lewenhoff and Dee Day. Nestled in the Perth foothills the theatre seated just 28 people and in 2001 was celebrated in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest amateur theatre in the world. They later were relegated to "The Smallest Theatre in the Southern Hemisphere" having been replaced by a British theatre situated in a toilet.
Patrons sat comfortably on seats formerly from His Majesty's Theatre in Perth and productions included an assortment of plays from those written by well-known playwrights to locally produced plays. They staged 4 to 5 productions a year including a July Pantomime, variety nights, comedies and dramas.
Last year the City of Gosnells Council, who owned Seaforth Hall, Acorn’s performance venue since the early 1990s, decided to close the venue, saying it was too expensive to maintain. The council plans to sell off the land.
The theatre was promised support and assistance to find a new home. The council eventually suggested shared use of Gosnells’ Addie Mills Centre.
In November Acorn Members voted against the council’s proposal of moving into the Addie Mills Centre. Some of the deciding factors were, the stage was too small with no backstage or wings, there was no daytime access for set preparation, and Acorn had a dwindling and ageing membership. At that stage there was hope that Acorn would continue as a traveling theatre.
Sharon Mobilia, an Acorn member since 1994 lamented “Hopefully other theatres will open their arms to the Acornians who wish to continue on their theatre journeys. There was a lot of talent hidden away in the foothills of Gosnells. I hope they have the courage to use that talent on the bigger stages in the community.” 



as posted here

Friday 5 February 2010

Thornlie Tree Man heads to Heritage Council

as posted here


Thornlie tree protest heads to Heritage Council

BEATRICE THOMAS, The West AustralianFebruary 5, 2010, 2:00 pm
Richard Pennicuik in his tree. Picture Sandra Jackson
WA News / Sandra Jackson ©Enlarge photo


























































    UPDATE: The ongoing saga of Thornlie's tree man has taken another bizarre turn with confirmation Richard Pennicuik is applying to have the tree heritage listed.
    The application, to be lodged with the Heritage Council of WA, will be based on the tree's 40-year age and the cultural significance obtained as a result of Mr Pennicuik's 60-day protest.
    Mr Pennicuik said the tree was culturally significant because it stood for free choice and saving the environment.
    “I, and the tree, stand for free choice and all the people who know what it’s like to have something taken away from them,” he said.
    Mr Pennicuik's lawyer, John Hammond, said he expected the application to be taken seriously "given the sentiment and controversy that surrounds the tree".
    It will also buy some time because any building or structure cannot be touched while it is being assessed for heritage listing, though it is understood the Heritage Council plans a quick turn around on the application.
    His wife Rose Malumbres, 55, said the application made use of another avenue to try to save the tree and did not demean the heritage process.
    “What about trees that are 100 years old that haven’t been heritage listed, that’s frivolous,” she said.
    Any listing on the State Register of Heritage Places needs to be of State significance.
    Hundreds of trees form part of the State Heritage database but in most cases they are part of a broader listing of a place.
    The council will have to carry out an initial assessment on the tree before making a decision.
    Mr Hammond said he had also put an "open offer" to the City of Gosnells outlining that Mr Pennicuik would come down from the eucalyptus melliodora tree if it agreed to preserve it, a nearby tree and also erect a barrier around it.
    The scene at the Pennicuik house is never dull.
    Almost every driver who whizzes by has a few honks and throwaway comment for the “tree man”. Their contributions range from “go tree man” to “get down you idiot” and “you dole bludger”.
    Mrs Malumbres said Friday nights gets especially rowdy because carloads of detractors pester her husband.
    “But he has never come down,” she said. “I would sit through a lie detector test to prove that.”
    A big crowd gathered outside Mr Pennicuik's Hume Road house for a "tree party" organised by a commercial radio station to mark the 60th day of the campaign this morning.
    A bush band and sausage sizzle were put on as part of the celebration.
    Tom, a neighbour who did not want his surname used, said the tree man was wasting his time.
    “It hasn’t got the significance to be heritage listed,” he said. “The shire will get its own way. He should just give up with some grace.”



    as posted here

    Thornlie Tree Man Won’t Give In

    as posted here


    The Tree Man Won’t Give In Or Come Down

    Jump to Comments
    Atta boy Richard
    OK Loons, remember Richard Pennicuik the man up the tree in Thornlie? Come on sure you do, I even think some of you made fun of him. Well, he is still up the eucalyptus tree (60 days and counting) , despite being fined, abused and even egged. Now Richard has found another angle to stop the City of Gosnells from chopping down his beloved tree… the Heritage Council. Oh , yeah, heritage list the bugger and stop the friggin City of Gosnells once and for all. Nice move.
    Psst Anyone who wants to show their support don’t forget to join his Facebook site…some of the comments are priceless.



    as posted here

    Day one ..

    the following reply was given ...

    Thankyou for your enquiry. Council meetings are conducted under the provisions of the City of Gosnells Standing Orders Local Law 2003, a co...