Sky's Vic Park Newsletter #3: on parking, trees, and Duncan Reserve
Kaya!
This monthly edition of my newsletter will come out after each Ordinary Committee Meeting (the main public decision-making meetings we have), with an attempt to explain the key decisions that were made.
I'm writing from my own perspective here: others might have different ideas about what the most important points were. I won't cover every issue, or this newsletter will get out of hand! I therefore encourage you to read the minutes or watch the livestream if there's a point that you really care about.
Decisions won't always turn out as I want them to: that's how democracy works. For each item, I'll try to give a brief explanation of why I voted as I did. If you want to know more about other members' voting choices, you can contact them.
Decisions that went through without debate
Every meeting there are items that go through as a bundle. This might be because they're relatively minor issues, or because we all agree and have no questions.
This meeting, these included:
Item 12.2: Arts and Sports funding, including funding for the Vic Park Writer’s Festival; the Vic Park Printmaking Group; Victoria Park Junior Football Club; and Carlisle and Victoria Park AFLW Ducks.
Item 12.4: Ongoing funding for the Vic Park Community Centre; Connect Victoria Park; and Victoria Park Centre for the Arts.
The Lathlain Park Zone 1 Business Plan was sent out for public feedback.
Issue: 14.1: Cr Devereux successfully moved a motion (at 3hr 33 min) to put $450,000 of our surplus funds into the Urban Forest reserve fund.
Decisions that were debated
Issue: Item 12.3 - Draft Local Planning Scheme 2, removal of residential parking minimums
The local planning scheme sets out the high-level plan for Vic Park over the next few years, and Town planning staff included a significant change: the removal of residential parking minimums. Mayor Vernon put forward an amendment to retain parking mandates.
Why should you care? At the moment all new housing is required to provide a mandated minimum of parking (although planners might negotiate on this). However, there's strong evidence showing:
that the more parking you have the more people drive (leading to more traffic and more parking problems);
that removing parking mandates means more affordable housing available and more equitable cities;
and that removing parking minimums can help combat climate change (so much so that Climate Changemakers in the US includes removing parking minimums as part of their action playbook).
In the debate (starting at around 58min in the recording) a number of concerns were raised about removing residential parking minimums, including that this isn't something residents of Vic Park want; that we already have discretion to allow reduced parking; that removing parking minimums might decrease accessibility; and that it might decrease the Town's ability to control on-street parking.
In the end, council voted to keep residential parking minimum requirements. Mayor Vernon, Cr Anderson, Cr Minson, Cr Melrosa, and Cr Hamer voted to keep minimum parking requirements in place. Deputy Mayor Ife, Cr Miles, Cr Devereux, and I voted to abolish parking minimums.
There will still be other opportunities to revisit parking mandates through place plans and the review of our commercial parking mandates.
Issue: Item 12.3 - Draft Local Planning Scheme 2, tree protections on private property
The Town of Vic Park, like most other places in Perth, is losing tree canopy at a worrying rate - much of it on private land. Even though we are attempting to address this through the Urban Forest Strategy, we can't keep up. This is something that our community has highlighted as a key concern.
Mayor Vernon therefore put forward an amendment to the local planning scheme to stop landowners from cutting down or damaging trees over a certain height without approval. Mayor Vernon noted that although we are aware that the planning minister will not allow council-level private tree protections, including them sends a strong message about our commitment to tree protections.
In the debate (starting at 2hrs 9 min here) the main concern raised was that this policy has no hope of being approved by the WA government, and that it might hold up the local planning scheme.
This policy was successfully passed with the votes of Mayor Vernon, Deputy Mayor Ife, Cr Anderson, Cr Melrosa, and Cr Minson. Cr Miles, Cr Devereux and I voted against it.
Issue: 17.1 Planning for Protection of Trees on Private Property
This is another attempt at exploring ways to protect trees on private land, put forward by Mayor Vernon.
All elected members voted in favour of this.
Issue: 12.9 Commemorative Recognition - renaming Duncan Reserve in honour of Sister Martin Kelly
The request to rename Duncan Reserve after Sister Martin Kelly was made by Historic Victoria Park Inc. Sister Kelly has a historic association with the area, having lived and gone to school nearby.
Duncan Reserve is a small park, but beloved by many local residents. During public statement time at the opening of the meeting, several locals attended to say that they did not believe that this was the best option for the park.
During debate (from 2hrs 56 min), it was noted that Sister Kelly did most of her work outside Vic Park; that locals do not feel this is the best option; and that we should be considering Indigenous connections in the area in naming local places.
Council voted to keep the existing name of Duncan Reserve. Cr Minson and Cr Hamer voted to rename the park. Mayor Vernon, Deputy Mayor Ife, Cr Anderson, Cr Miles, Cr Devereux and I voted to keep the existing name. (Cr Devereux has also asked that the Town review the commemorative recognition policy to ensure that it's in line with our commitments to Indigenous engagement and engagement with local residents.)
Issue: 13.2 - Exploring the sale of 47 Planet St
The community in Carlisle and the surrounding neighbourhood have expressed their desire for a local grocery store. Someone has approached the Town to request the sale of 47 Planet St (currently a car park). A local grocery store would make the neighbourhood more walkable and convenient.
In the debate (which was very short, as this was 3hr 23 min into the meeting), it was noted that there's currently a development application under way for a grocery store at 44 Planet St. I noted that while I do not think the future of the land should be to remain a parking lot, this seems like a valuable space to retain for future public use.
Council voted not to pursue exploring the sale of 47 Planet St. Deputy Mayor Ife voted for continuing to consider the sale, as did Cr Miles and Cr Devereux. Mayor Vernon, Cr Anderson, Cr Melrosa, Cr Minson, and I voted against it. (Cr Hamer had to leave prior to this item due to work commitments.)
That's all folks!
Thanks for reading! If you've found this useful, please consider sharing it with others. As always, if you have questions or feedback please get in touch.
best wishes,
sky.
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