Avon Terrace, York, 14 May 2006 - before Ray Hooper vandalised it
(Photograph courtesy of York resident Bill Roy)
My wife and I have just returned from a few days in Kalgoorlie. On Saturday, we visited Boulder to have a look at the historic main street. To our delight, we saw that the street was plentifully provided with trees, giving it a welcoming and refreshing ambience and appearance.
For many years, trees also grew in Avon Terrace. As I recall, the Shire removed them from the shopping precinct on some probably spurious pretext a year or so before we came to live here. I imagine there was a lot of fuss about that at the time.
You might have thought that if there was a good reason to remove those trees, the Shire would have put some consideration and effort into solving whatever the problem was, then replacing them.
People have told me that was never on the agenda. It seems the former CEO, Ray Hooper, didn't like trees and used to describe them as 'weeds'. Since he was de facto absolute ruler of York, it was his call, so no new trees were planted.
That's the story. I hope for Mr Hooper's sake it isn't true. I would have serious concerns about the mental state of anyone who dislikes trees, which in a main street like Avon Terrace give shade to the shopper and gladden the hearts of residents and tourists alike.
But then, I would have serious concerns about the mental state of a former shire councillor who cared so little about our heritage as WA's oldest inland town as to utter, at an ordinary council meeting, the extraordinary aphorism: 'History is for books, not for York'. I can't remember the fellow's name, but I believe he still walks among us, though he hasn't had a seat on council for a good many years.
Next time we have an election for council, let's make sure we choose councillors from candidates who express a deeply felt concern for history, heritage, and trees in the main street.
And when those councillors come to choose a new CEO, let them ask the candidates how they feel about those three things, and how best they think the Shire, with the community's help and support, can preserve, promote and protect them.
Times are hard for York and likely to become harder. Agriculture will always be of vital importance to us, but so are history and heritage. They are what attract tourists, and without tourism we would be in real danger of becoming a ghost town, with boarded-up shops, scores of houses for sale and a population mainly composed of old fogies like me.
We don't want that, do we?
Accentuating the positive
This blog and its predecessor have attracted a fair bit of criticism over many months for what some, especially Commissioner Best, have described as 'negativity'.
We of the York Consortium regard that criticism as unfair. We believe we have always had a very positive approach to the shire's problems.
Our positive 'vision' comprises the restoration of our elected Council (not as clear cut an outcome at present as we'd like to think); electing more councillors who believe in open, honest and accountable local government; the appointment of an intelligent CEO with relevant tertiary qualifications who understands that they along with their staff are ultimately answerable to Council; the reform of the Department of Local Government and Communities; and the replacement of Minister Tony Simpson with somebody who at least gives the appearance of having something more impressive than spongecake between his ears.
It seems Mr Best's 'visioning' sessions haven't been too successful. Only a few people in York have supported them (when he first arrived here, it's said, Mr Best thought his 'visioning' process would attract hundreds of participants).
The challenge
So here's my challenge. I'm asking everyone who reads this blog to think about what we can do to secure York's future by making the town as pleasant to live in and attractive to tourists as we can, and to publish your suggestions as comments on this blog. It doesn't matter if you live somewhere else; in that case, ask yourself what features of a country town would make you keen to visit it, what visitors should be able to expect from businesses and residents, and what facilities, including shops, should be available.
This is our very own 'visioning' process. Give it a go. You never know where good ideas can take us.
James Plumridge
Green Planet Grass
We’re delighted with the design and construction of our 2 new bowling
greens. Green Planet Grass has been exceptional to deal with at every stage of
the project. The drainage exceeds expectations.
Ray Hooper, CEO, Shire of York
( See https://www.google.com.au/?gws_rd=ssl )
Maybe it was Ray's intention to replace the Avon Terrace trees with artificial ones, then he decided to redirect the money to construction of the York Recreation Centre.
Good one James, couldn't agree with you more. Lets hope we can all pull together to get our York back and hopefully the beautiful trees like were in the main street previously. Thank you for all your information you give us. Age is just a number & I do see you riding a bike around York so don't call yourself an old fogie!!
ReplyDeleteI suggested to Mr. Best at one of the 'waste of time' visioning meetings that York 'families' or 'people' sponsor a mature shade tree for the CBD. That is, individuals pay the initial cost to purchase a fully grown deciduous tree to give us shade in summer.
ReplyDeletePeople could sponsor a tree in Memory of someone etc. but NO plaques on individual trees - for the trees protection.
The Shire would be responsible for planting the trees and would need to give an undertaking the trees will receive ample water during the sumer months.
If Rokeby Road CBD drainage can cope with fully grown London Plane trees losing their leaves in winter, so can Avon Terrace.
Brilliant idea, Roma.
DeleteI forgot to mention in my article that the purpose of this challenge is not to waste people's time but to craft the basis of a manifesto for reform-minded people willing to put their hands up for Council at the next election. Voters need to know in advance of the election what candidates stand for and want to do for the York community. So here's a chance for all of us to tell potential candidates what we expect of them. Your idea about the trees is a great start, so thanks.
BTW, is anyone out there proposing to stand for election to Council? If so, and you're the kind of 'positive thinker' indicated in my article - above all, committed to open, honest and accountable local government - please feel free to write an article for the blog telling us about yourself and how you think York should develop and grow. If you're a young person, so much the better. We need young people to define York's future, not just elderly folk with one eye on eternity.
Mr. Best says he will do what is Best for the people of York. Mr. Best hasn't a clue what is best for York, how could he, when he was parachuted in on the westerly wind - the same westerly wind that will bring the stench of the Landfill if it proceeds.
ReplyDeleteI believe Best is only going on what the Minister has instructed him to do. Of course Best has taken into account what is best for those 'important people of York' he was told to liaise with.
Is Mr. Best finishing off what Ray Hooper started? Refer Item 4.2.1. latest Agenda. Shire of York is to finally get their name on the Title Deed of the York Racing Club land. Why couldn't this important decision wait for another month when our elected Council is back? Well folks, Tony Boyle is heavily involved in the Race club Committee…..need I say more!
Sounds like the sell off of land to developers is blowing in the wind.
If Mr. Best is serious about wanting to do what is best for the people of York he should allow the Australian Electoral Office to conduct a Postal Vote for the next Council election.
ReplyDeleteTo appoint a 'local' as the Returning Officer will continue the perception of a rigged election.
We want a Postal Vote election run entirely by the Electoral Commission Mr. Best.
Read the breifing agenda anonymous
DeleteRead the breifing agenda re elections anonymous
DeleteWe have read the Agenda item on the briefing notes re elections Bill. It is nothing short of an appalling standard of English.
DeleteIt is impossible to understand what the Shire is planning.
Why is there a need for a 'local' to be appointed Returning Officer IF the election is the Postal Vote method.
EURIKA: a decent response from Joaquina St!!!!
DeleteI wrote to the A/CEO and JB about the way some items were expressed, and received a very cordial reply from the Stand-in A/CEO (Peter Bradbrook, Acting Chief Executive Officer (Period 8 – 12 June). He can, incidentally, spell and put a decent sentence together, as opposed to a certain other A/CEO, from my experience. (Maybe the Shire should look to Peter Bradbrook for our next CEO?)
Item 4.2.3. reads as York Cemetery Internment Niche Wall: Incorrectly worded. He appreciated the false meaning it appears, and assures me the correct word Interment will now be used.
Item 4.2.4. OFFICER RECOMMENDATION. Mr Bradbrook assures me the words will be rearranged as follows, so as to make the sense they were meant to:
"That the Commissioner:
1. Approve the distribution of existing and new policies to Councillors for their consideration at the Workshops to be held on 13th July, 3rd August, 7th September and 5th October, for them to discuss and amend, where necessary; and.....
Item 4.2.1 2015 Biennial Election. The information was so obscure in the section headed Officer Comment, and re the OFFICER RECOMMENDATION I wrote: "It is not clear whether you, the Commissioner, are proposing to request that the Electoral Commission conduct this election as an 'in person' one or as a postal one." (It could be either, because from http://www.elections.wa.gov.au/elections/local: "The Electoral Commissioner is responsible for conducting postal elections in Western Australia and conducts voting in person elections on request under the Local Government Act 1995.")
The reply I received on this last item was: "In relation to the local government elections the recommendation for Council was provided by the Electoral Commissioner with the intent that the Commission conducts an in-person election in York. If a postal ballot was to be held a different recommendation is required."
He even wrote: "Thank you again for notifying Council of these inaccuracies"
Anyway, hopefully.....
I tried to read the Agenda and got a massive headache for my effort. Thanks for posting the clarification Liz.
DeleteSuggest you frame the response. A cordial letter, let alone one including a thank you have been like hens teeth for over a decade.
I spotted Peter Bradbrook walking through the Shire office - he has a nice face and looks very professional.
Peter Bradbrook credentials: 2012 A/CEO Lake Grace (Google); Special Projects Manager (Boddington Council, 2008) etc...
DeleteGood to see the Fitz Gerald Report is back up on ........ shireofyork6302fitzgerald.blogspot.com.au
ReplyDeleteInteresting item on the ABC news Tuesday night. The news item followed a Letter to the Editor of The West Australian, Wednesday May 27th, penned by a South Perth Resident - Vicki Redden.
ReplyDeleteSouth Perth (Mill Point Rd.) resident, Ms. Redden, is up in arms about a proposed 29 story apartment block being given the tick of approval by JDAP. She says the South Perth Mayor and Council spoke against the application at Council level.
According to Ms. Redden's Letter to the Editor, the area was changed from a designated medium-density (8 storeys) to high rise (29 Storeys) without any community consultation. How could that happen?
Now, this story becomes intriguing.
Before the above mentioned Letter to the Editor was published, York's Commissioner held his introductory forums and during at least two of these forums those attending may recall he showed over heads depicting his past achievements to give us an idea of his expertise/experience etc.
One over head was a map of the South Perth peninsular with a sizeable area outlined. He told us the South Perth Council while he was Mayor, had set aside the area within the line for high rise development and this was a positive move forward for South Perth.
Did Ms. Redden miss the meeting when the Mayor and Councillors made this 'positive move forward' decision for South Perth?
Who represented the South Perth Council on the JDAP?
Yes, as one who previously lived on that lovely leafy section of Mill Point Road for 6 years and thoroughly enjoyed its ambience and amenity (though the petrol fumes and noise from the on-ramp and freeway could be annoying if one doesn't have double-glazing) and found the not-too-many-storied buildings nearby OK, I commented to JB in a meeting that I hoped they were not going to build these super-high buildings on those leafy streets. He showed us 3 areas on the peninsula bit where such buildings would be erected and seemed quite proud of what he seemed to be saying was one of his achievements. However, the story on the news and in the newspapers seems somewhat contradictory to the idea that the Shire agreed to it, and seemed to be blaming the DAP. Who has the correct story? And as anonymous 9 June 2015 at 08:50 wrote: Who represented the South Perth Council on the JDAP?
DeleteMinutes of the JDAP meetings are available on the web and will list the representatives of the South Perth Council. SJ councillors that represent the council on JDAP for the most part do not have the best interest of the rate payers as their main focus.
DeleteHow come JB is claiming these super buildings in South Perth as one of his achievements?
DeleteDoes anyone know where JB fitted into the approval process?
I hope someone reading this blog knows Ms. Redden or someone living in South Perth so they can send the link to this Blog.
ReplyDeleteSouth Perth residents may find it interesting to know their 'high density' area is featured in their ex Mayors list of achievements.
I remember Avon Terrace looking stunningly beautiful with the tress in the picture above.
ReplyDeleteOne Monday morning residents and businesses were devastated to find those beautiful trees had been chain sawed down by the Shire of York.
Wanton vandalism.
It seems surprising that one man should have had the power to order the destruction of so many beautiful trees. What's even more surprising is that the Council of the day did nothing to prevent this desecration of the the York CBD. In fact, they must have authorised it, or ratified it after it was done. What a gang of fools, apparently incapable of foreseeing the effect this action was bound to have not just on tourism but also on the mood and spirit of the York community. Judging from what York residents have said to me since I posted this article, the hurt and dismay haven't much dissipated over the past eight years.
DeleteOne resident told me that she asked CEO Hooper why he had ordered this act of destruction. She said that when she approached him he was standing outside the Shire office smoking and looking very pleased with himself. His reply was - wait for it - 'Because I can'.
I've come to the conclusion that at some point in his sojourn here CEO Hooper declared a jihad on York. He seems to have done the place an awful lot of damage. We shouldn't just blame him, though. He had plenty of help from successive Councils. As Tony Boyle famously wrote, 'We're a cohesive team behind you Ray'.
Thanks to CEO Hooper's pharaonic insistence on the construction of the YRC, York ratepayers can look forward to a good many years of paying through the nose to feed the Great White Elephant, which returns nothing on their investment and will, I confidently predict, never come within cooee of paying for itself. Money earmarked for road maintenance and other civic projects was poured into this absurd project: a classic instance of a white elephant turning into a black hole.
No wonder CEO Hooper's disciples in the Shire administration are so keen to hide the truth about the YRC. A few months ago we were promised a 'fact sheet' on the topic. Has anybody seen it? I haven't, and don't really expect to. (Go on, Commissioner - prove me wrong!)
Ah, but I digress. What I was going to say was that the York CBD chainsaw massacre is exactly the kind of thing James 'Negativity' Best, Tony 'Spongecake' Simpson, Brad 'We don't cross our fingers and hope' Jolly and their hangers-on tell us we should forget about. No we bloody well shouldn't. If we forget the past, we may end up repeating it, especially if we go on appointing CEOs and electing councillors of questionable moral and intellectual calibre as seems to have happened over many years.
So - never forget the Avon Terrace trees, and elect a council that understands the social, economic and aesthetic value of trees and vows to make replacing them a priority. Citoyens, aux armes!
The photo above brings tears to my eyes.
DeleteWe are blessed Mr. Roy thought to take that photo to remind us of how beautiful our CBD looked.
My suggestions to make Avon Tce more welcoming is adding flowers - perhaps at the base of the trees we desire. The beauty and colour display provided by flowers is something I've noticed consistently as we've traveled through various country towns.
ReplyDeleteMy next comment is a very familiar one that has been stated many times already, in different contexts, with no apparent solution: the dreadful appearance of the Gull service station as one enters the main street is a blight on the landscape and creates a most unwelcoming effect. How can we create a need for the owners of the land and business to rectify this situation by radically upgrading the property???
I agree with the flowers and the trees.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the York Garden Club could consider a project to beautify our CBD by planting up hanging baskets of geraniums from cuttings for each business. The baskets would need to be watered by each business and hung outside when they open and taken inside when they close each evening to avoid vandalism. Geraniums are heat tolerant and most forgiving.
Consider making the CBD one way between the Castles and the Co-op. Create angle parking from the Castle to Jules, then swap sides and have angle parking from the Museum to the Co-op. A slight bend and speed hump created in the vicinity of Settlers court yard would
slow down the traffic.
Trees could be planted on the opposite side of the street to the angle parking.
These are great ideas regarding use of flowers to beautify Avon Terrace. Even if trees were planted today, it would be a long time before they grew to the height reached by the trees in the photos. Flowers - especially perhaps in hanging baskets? - would cheer up the view along the street.
DeleteWe shouldn't forget that the CBD is the whole town's 'shopfront' - not just a place to shop. The nicer it looks, the happier and more welcome visitors will feel, and the more inclined to spend their money.
I agree with Vision's proposal to make the CBD one-way. What do others think?
Jane, I'm not sure what can be done about the state of the Gull service station. Perhaps encouragement rather than enforcement would be the way to go. Ideas, anyone?
How about a kiosk selling rose tinted glasses located in the information layby on the approach to town?
DeleteIf we could get York back on its feet, we wouldn't need rose-tinted glasses. Toodyay seems to have found a way out of the Slough of Despond, and it's had at least as much to contend with as York, probably more. (Apparently the renascent Shire Council is suing its former CEO. Now there's a thought...)
DeletePlease don't give way to despair, good people. I agree with James Best that we need to design our future. Where he and I differ is that I believe we have first to acknowledge and repair past wrongs, whereas he seems to think we should forget about and obliterate the past altogether, letting culpable shire officials and government bureaucrats quietly off the hook. (There are, I hope, a good many other points of difference between us.)
'Nothing is inevitable so long as there is a willingness to contemplate change' (Marshall McLuhan).
If residents sponsored mature trees for the CBD as suggested, (they come in very big bags) we would not have to wait for them to grow.
ReplyDeleteFlowers, yes — except for the possibility of water from hanging baskets dropping on people, and the hassle for the shop owners to have the extra chore of taking plants in and out every day, when so many of them shut up shop immediately at 4.00 and disappear as soon as possible; and some more than others are battling numbers of customers even at the last minute. Optional, maybe.
ReplyDeleteOne-way and angle parking, no. Several years ago (maybe when we had the last Commissioner) there was a survey on this, and I and mine figured it out diagrammatically, and it was going to end up a real bottleneck at each of the corners, for one thing. Maybe it would work better with roundabouts, if the road were wide enough at each end (or not).
Whoever in the Shire was responsible, they were planning angle parking on one side of Mcartney Street. Whether there or on Avon Tce, I believe it would cause a great deal of trouble to elderly drivers (no small proportion of the population), and some problems to all drivers. Four reasons come to mind:
1. Older people (or people with some disabilities) can have a great deal of difficulty turning their neck to see what is coming; but in parking as we currently have it, the right-hand rear-vision mirror serves to tell us what cars passing or waiting are doing, but neither mirror can in angle parking;
2. with angle parking facing the kerb, people would have to go out into the road to load their shopping into their boots, and this is dangerous;
3. with angle parking backing into the kerb there is too much risk of scraping another car, and again there is the problem of straining one's neck to try to park safely;
4. older people such as those with bad knees and hips sometimes need to open their car door wider to get out (or in for that matter) and angle parking does not allow the same space for driver or passenger to do that.
There may be an/other reason/s not coming to mind at present.
Anyway, after the responses to that rare Shire event of an actual survey, they dropped the idea. They don't drop their ideas lightly, by my experience.
Nobody's suggesting that shop owners should be compelled to do anything, but hanging baskets, in the absence of trees, would brighten up the street and benefit trade. In my experience, hanging baskets only drip water for a short period after watering. At some point, commonsense, not to mention self preservation, must surely intervene :-)
DeleteIt occurs to me that there is plenty of parking at the back of the CBD. The parking area between there and the old school building is seldom used to capacity. On the rare occasions when I drive to town, that's usually where I leave my car. It's only a short walk from there to the CBD.
I understand what you're saying about elderly drivers. I'm one of them. Perhaps angle parking isn't the best option.
What about making the shopping precinct a mall, like Hay Street in Perth? More trees, and shady places with benches where we old codgers can rest our weary limbs? Buskers? Special promotions, and space for charity stalls? Market stalls selling local produce?
The idea about a mall has come up in various of the 'visioning' groups and in the former (now abolished in favour of 'Sense of Place') Heritage Advisory Group. Some suggest one day a week (like Sunday) with pop-up stalls etc...such as fits with what you are suggesting, James.
DeleteThe main problem some of us oldies would have, however, is the problem of walking far. To most younger people and some older ones, walking from the car park behind the shops and in front of the Medical Centre is not too far. For others it is. For some, just walking down the footpath on Avon Tce can be too far, which is why they like/need to be able to park on Avon Tce and move down and park near the next shop they need to go to, or to the bank or such. Then there is the instance when something crops up so that you suddenly need to get something in a hurry and don't have the time to walk the distance. 'One size fits all' doesn't necessarily solve the problem, I fear.
As a man in his seventies, I sympathise with what you're saying, JEJCB, but I'm not sure we should give up on good ideas because they don't suit everybody. I'm reminded of the old legal maxim, 'Hard cases make bad law'. In my view, we should accommodate the majority (the democratic option) and make adjustments as necessary for minorities (the humane option).
DeleteBeing inconvenienced now and then is a part of life, surely, especially perhaps but not only for us elders of the tribe.
It does sound 'moralistic' James Pumridge when you say "Being inconvenienced now and then is a part of life". There is a difference between 'inconvenience' and 'impossibility' or 'severe discomfort'; and where a situation creates the most difficulty for the disabled or elderly it should be taken seriously in a 'just' solution. The young can (except where there is a disability) cope with 'inconvenience' in terms of walking, parking and loading vehicles better than many of the elderly. Several years ago, one of our Shire Presidents stated that (even then) there were 400 seniors with ACCROD stickers who need to park close to where they shop most etc... in town. I have no idea whether he was exaggerating or not, but the numbers with bad hips, knees, backs etc... is not small. I know and have known a number of them. Do you call it an 'inconvenience' if they have to stay away from the shops or miss out on being able to go down town and have a level of independence and control over their own lives and be able to meet for coffee or a meal or whatever in the heart of town?
DeleteIt's not meant to be moralistic, it's a demonstrable statement of fact. Inconvenience is a normal part of life that afflicts everybody sometimes, even the young and fit.
DeleteI agree that we should plan with the elderly and disabled in mind. I take your point that York has a significant number of elderly and disabled people who would like to enjoy independent living for as long as their health permits. However, I still maintain that the solution is to make adjustments to help them - as we do with disabled parking and access - rather than to make their difficulties the basis of what we intend to do. Sometimes what benefits a majority may outweigh disadvantage to a minority. If people wanted to do something that would attract tourists, bring money into the town, and improve the lives of most inhabitants, but would cause me inconvenience or worse, I hope and believe I would not stand in its way. And yes, I do know what it's like to be incapacitated and have difficulty getting around, though thankfully not nowadays.
I agree with James P. adjustments can be made. We need to seriously consider the idea of a Mall, even if it is only on Sunday.
DeleteThe City of Perth created two large malls and they are there permanently. Hundreds of 'oldies' are seen every day in the both, they don't have a problem getting there from car parks.
Parking is only an issue when visitors come which at present numbers are low. The first issue is to get a decent adminstration which encourages business so there is something for visitors to do when they get here. Visitors are not going to come here in their droves because we have geraniums or because we have sunday markets. Get real and focus on exposing the corruption and replacing the adminstration. Otherwise you won't get trees, markets, visitors or anything else.
DeleteI'm sorry if I've given the impression that I've lost sight of the important issues you refer to, Anonymous 65. Believe me, I haven't. Over the next few weeks, I'll be pointing out further evidence of corruption in the Shire and collusion in the DLGC. I want to see a new administration as much as anyone else and a restored elected shire council with positive policies for business, especially tourism and related service facilities, in the town. We won't get anything worthwhile going here until that happens. Meanwhile, a bit of dreaming doesn't hurt and should encourage people to see that living in York doesn't have to be a nightmare of bullying and corruption as it was for many good people during the wasted years of the Hooper-Boyle-Hooper ascendancy.
DeleteAnonymous 65 - exposing corruption can only happen if people come forward with the evidence. Lighten the load for the few doing the work, send in documented evidence to the Blog.
DeleteCould I respectively suggest you stop criticising the efforts of those volunteering their time to help the people of York uncover the corruption.
This Blog only happened because a couple of people realised the devastation caused to the community when the previous Blog was removed. A lot of time and effort went into getting this Blog up an running.
Replacing the Administration can only happen if we get a good, honest CEO that is not into empire building. We will only get a good honest CEO if we have a honest and determined Council.
We do not need the style of council Hooper, Boyle and Hooper offered. For people who professed to love their community, they sure had a strange way of showing it. Had they not let their egos rule their brains, we would still have our Council.
James P. I do not believe you need to apologise to anyone. You are doing more than most in York.
DeletePerhaps Anonymous 65 would consider contributing some evidence of corruption.
Goodness the water only drips for a short while, a small price to pay for the beauty they would give our main street. Many Towns have them, so why not York?
DeleteThe City of Kalgoorlie has had angle parking the full length of the main street for decades and we don't hear of people being killed loading up their boots with groceries.
There would be more distance between cars for angle parking here in York than there is for cars parking in Midland shopping centres.People with difficulties are entitled to ACROD parking. Very wide bays are provided for them allowing for wheel chairs etc. and those bays could be placed near the IGA etc. like they are now, in fact you could probably fit three ACROD angle parking bays in the current space that takes only two outside IGA.
Dreaming never hurt anyone James P. It saved many people's sanity during the Hooper/Boyle regime.
DeleteAnonymous 65 - Geraniums in hanging baskets won't fix all the problems, but what it may do is lift the spirits of the Town a little. Isn't that worth a try?
DeleteI remember hearing comments and seeing the smiles when the Daffodils flowered around the base of the trees in the CBD. Chris, a local identity purchased, planted and nurtured those Daffodils (and other annuals). He came into Town every single morning and watered his plants with his watering can before most of York was even awake.…. until they were unceremoniously ripped out when the Shire cut down the trees in the above picture.
Our Town has been waiting years for the Shire and Councillors to keep the promises they have made about the CBD, only to see those promises broken time and time again. Remember Councillor Roy Scott, he took on the responsibility and promised he would have shady trees planted in the CBD and what did he do? He left Town and we still don't have trees.
Why not take the initiative ourselves and start making a difference to the appearance of the CBD with a few flowering Geraniums in hanging baskets?
Thanks for clarifying your intentions James. It is reassuring to know you are still determined. My comment was not a criticism of you or anyone else on the blog only of the adminstration. I dont want to waste my time dreaming until the reality of our situation is dealt with. For the others who replied -don't assume I'm a fence sitter who has done nothing. Its not a competition.
DeleteSo Ray Hooper was delighted with the plastic lawn on the bowling greens and said the drainage exceeded expectations. Not sure you would call two large sink holes good drainage Ray.
ReplyDeleteAnyone had a look at the Tennis Court plastic lawn lately? Hope it is under warranty.
You need permission from the Shire to put up hanging baskets. If it were just a case of putting them up dont you think it would be done by now. This blog is not the first time this has been proposed. It the same cycle of ideas rehashed every few years but with same old senior staff.
ReplyDeleteBill, you just dripped cold water on my idea.
DeleteSpread the word - the 'original' blog is back on air!!! I just happened to click on a 'most visited' link when intending to bring up this blog, when it appeared. A new photo was added yesterday (14/6) plus, it appears, all the other submissions are still there.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane. Just in case people have lost the link to the old blog - here it is. http://shireofyork6302.blogspot.com.au
ReplyDeleteSeems the original Blog was making a very big impact and certain people got a little upset. Serves them right, now we have two Blogs.
Can they both provide links to each other to assist people?
Appears Google understands the value of truth and democracy more than the Shire of York Administration, the DLG and Minister Simpson!
Locals are not the only ones upset about the condition/deterioration of the CBD. Tourists are now writing letters to the Editor of the YDCM telling us some hard facts, including comments on the disappearance of the above trees.
ReplyDeleteIf the Commissioner won't listen to the locals, maybe he will take notice of what Visitors are saying.
Yep, anonymous16 June 2015 at 03:54, I saw letters from 2 tourists in the mid-month paper just released. One clearly knows our relevance as WA's first inland town, and the other returned from NSW after 5 years and had a thing or two to say which clearly reflected her knowledge of what York used to be, too. They both pointed out a range of deficiencies they have noted: trees, lack thereof; various aspects of main street ambience; damaged and worn signs; inappropriate 'repair' of the swing bridge'; the barren spot where we used to have the beautiful ficus tree, and it all being fenced off; failure to mention our WWI nurse Sr. Ethel Monger in an important article; missing festivals; lack of respectful care of heritage buildings, etc..
ReplyDeleteThey are calling it like it is, and challenging us to get our act together, basically, and even saying that if not then visitors will not return and pleading for us to do something about it.