CoSPRA

The City of South Perth wants to build an unnecessary facility right in the middle of Sir James Mitchell Park, which would not only rob the park of more than two-thousand square metres of existing open space, but create an architectural eyesore in the centre of the suburb’s greatest natural asset.

The Council plans to convince federal and state governments and private investors to provide $7 million for a project named “Westralian Centre”, which will replicate already existing exhibition space across Perth.

So far, the Council is yet to satisfactorily explain why such a project is necessary or why it wants to develop a facility that will have a permanent impact on the outstanding visual appeal of one of Australia’s most pristine and appealing parkland areas.

At the initiative of the South Perth Residents Association Incorporated, the Council has called a special electors’ meeting at the South Perth Community Hall on Thursday 8 June at 6pm.

Chair of the association, Cecilia Brooke, is urging South Perth residents to attend.

“If you care about the encroachment on our suburb’s open space for dubious community gain, please attend the community meeting so that the City of South Perth can hear your views and be left in no doubt about where residents stand on this important issue,” she says.

Cecilia Brooke points out that the project depends on raising at least $7 million from state and federal governments and private funding arrangements – a big

Date: 17 May 2017

challenge in current stringent economic times. Management and maintenance costs for the centre will rely on successful venue hire arrangements, but will otherwise fall back on ratepayer funds.

The impact of this unnecessary proposal is very evident when viewed at the City of South Perth website.