Friday 26 March 2010

Tree man's protest ends

as posted here

Thornlie's tree man Richard Pennicuik has ended his 110 day protest and climbed down from the 20m-high eucalyptus melliodorain on the front verge of his home.

Mr Pennicuik has been living in the tree outside his Hume Road home since early December, including during Monday's devastating hail storm that swept across Perth and caused more than $200 million damage.

The City of Gosnells wants to remove the tree, claiming it poses a danger.

Mr Pennicuik claimed he won the moral battle before doing a lap around the tree and heading inside his home to have a shower.

He initially released a four paragraph statement, but re-emerged to speak to reporters, saying he felt great.

"The tree weathered the worst storm to hit Perth ever and it's in good condition, it has proven itself," Mr Pennicuik said.

"It is worth it because we have shown the people of Australia they need the constitution, they can't do without it.

"I think I have (proven my point) I think the tree has."

City of Gosnells Mayor Olwen Searle today welcomed the Mr Pennicuik's decision to come down from the tree, but confirmed the council would go ahead with plans to chop it down.

Ms Searle would not give a date for when the tree would come down and said legal action against Mr Pennicuik would be reviewed.

"The city is delighted that residents of Hume Road have their street back after all the disruption they have suffered," Ms Searle said.

"Trees of the same age and species as the one occupied by the protester have suffered 20 catastrophic failures in the past five years."

Mr Pennicuik said people had to "wake up" and see that the State Government was all people had.

He described himself as a normal person and said he was already adjusted to life back on earth.

In his statement, Mr Pennicuik said he had decided to end his constitutional right to occupy and protect his tree on his land from "unconstitutional local governments".

"To cut down this beautiful tree now would be a crime against nature, which Kevin Rudd says he is trying to protect by ripping more taxes off us for global warming," he said.

"We have won the constitutional and moral victory by protecting this tree which has become a symbol of our freedom to rule ourselves by our constitution and not be ruled over by politicians who rule under the guise of serving.

"I hope to gain my strength after spending 106 (sic) days in the tree, a tree that forms part of our wealth in common, this is why Australia is called the Commonwealth."

Frustrated neighbours turned on reporters who flocked to the home.

The council is now taking legal action against Mr Pennicuik. He faces a $5000 fine and penalties of $500 for every day he remains up the tree.


as posted here

Tree Man Claims He Was Struck by Lightning

as posted here

A Western Australian man who spent the last 105 days perched in a Eucalyptus tree, claims he was struck by lightning during Perth's violent storm Monday - but even that was not enough to bring him down from the tree he was trying to save.

Tree man Richard Pennicuik, 57, told PerthNow his metal harness was hit by lightning, "which sent bolts through me.

"My mate was in the backyard and he saw the lightning hit the tree and spread out like a fire cracker,'

"The lightning came down my cable, into my neck, down my right arm and out my leg.

"It came out of nowhere and it was frightening. But I'm alright", he said.

Pennicuik said that the fact that the storm caused no damage to the tree shows that local government is wrong to claim the tree is a hazard to property and the public.

Three supporters gave Pennicuik a large piece of plywood to shelter him from hail, wind and rain.

"It crossed my mind to come down when I looked down and saw the three of them. I felt like I should come down but I'm glad I didn't.

"If the storm can't bring me down, nothing will bring me down," he added

The local government intended to chop down the tree in front of Pennicuik's home in Thornlie, near Perth, deeming it a danger to property and the public.

Pennicuik recently rejected advice from his lawyer to end his protest.

He could face a fine of AU$5,000 Australian dollars (US$4,600) and penalties of up to $500 a day if he refused.


as posted here

Saturday 20 March 2010

Teen dies after being hit by car | Perth Now

AS POSTED HERE ---> Teen dies after being hit by car | Perth Now:

"A 19-year-old man died this morning when he was hit by a car as he walked with family in Huntingdale.

The man was walking across Warton Road with his cousins returning from another family member's house just after 1am this morning when he was struck by a car being driven by a woman.

The man died at the scene.

17-year-old Aaron Johnson saw the man get hit by the car as he rode home on his scooter with his girlfriend.

``I heard a big bang and looked behind me and I saw him go flying over the pedestrian island,'' Aaron said at the scene of the accident.

``He was just walking across the road and the car cleaned him up but the car took ages to stop.

``I said to the driver you just hit someone... I ran back to where he was and I checked for a pulse but there was nothing.

``His injuries were terrible.

``I was just out for a quiet night and I didn't expect to see this.''

Constable Callan Tucker from the South East Metro Police said the man was flung about 15m.

It's understood the man had just arrived in Perth a few weeks ago."

Council to express concerns on draft industrial strategy

as posted here

The City of Gosnells agrees with community concern over suggestions that Orange Grove may be suitable for investigation into its potential for industrial development.

The Council has considered the Department of Planning’s draft Industrial Land Strategy (ILS) and resolved to make a submission to the State Government outlining a series of concerns.

Residents also presented a petition with 179 signatures against the proposal at the Ordinary Council Meeting on March 9.

The petition states residents object on the grounds that the proposed strategy has the potential to destroy a unique rural environment that provides a habitat for vulnerable and endangered fauna.

The draft ILS seeks to ensure an ongoing supply of industrial land in the Perth and Peel regions to cater for forecast business demand for the next 20 years and beyond, with four sites identified in the City of Gosnells for potential industrial development.

"Our main concerns with the strategy are in relation to the suggestion that Orange Grove may be suitable for industrial development in the future,” Mayor Olwen Searle said.

"Council objects to the identification of Orange Grove as a potential industrial area as it goes against our planning strategy that recommends the area remain rural.

"The local community has come out and strongly expressed a very similar view.”

The Mayor said she believes it is vital that the Department of Planning listens to the local community and consults with them correctly.

About 300 people attended a recent meeting on the subject with many voicing objections to the draft plans.

"It is absolutely critical that plans are put in place to provide for economic development of our City,” the Mayor said.

“And we appreciate that recognition has been given in the draft strategy about the potential to develop places for business and employment in areas like Maddington and Southern River.

"It is however more urgent and important that the State Government look at ways to help overcome the constraints that are delaying plans to bring forward development in areas where it is needed and wanted by the local community."

Mayor Searle said the Maddington Kenwick Strategic Employment Area is a case in point.

The area has been identified in the draft strategy for industrial development and many landowners have told the City they are keen to see the development occur.

"The development of this area will be of immense value to our City and the broader economy," the Mayor said.


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...